Novosibirsk has developed scintillating substances based on rare earth elements for the early diagnosis of cancer. The luminophores will allow doctors to detect traces of cancer foci at the cellular level for the targeted destruction of atypical cells, according to a TASS report with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk region.
«Cancer cells are known to get used to therapy. They become resistant and produce metastases. Luminophores based on rare earth elements will help doctors detect traces of cancer foci at the cellular level in order to then target these atypical cells», — the ministry explained.
The researchers from the A.V. Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the RAS Siberian branch, who synthesized the compounds, say that they used Europium and Terbium complexes as a basis, as these have the brightest luminescence. Moreover, these substances are not toxic to healthy cells. The color of the visible radiation depends on the metal: for example, Europium’s radiation is red, while Terbium produces green light.
The regional ministry emphasized that cancer cell imaging is necessary to accurately identify infected cells and then monitor their spread through the body. This is necessary to prevent the disease from developing unnoticed until the very late stages, which are much more difficult to treat.
Earlier it became known that Russian scientists have proposed a new method for evaluating the effectiveness of photosensitizers—compounds that destroy cancer cell membranes when exposed to light— which is expected to accelerate the development and testing of new potential cancer drugs. It was reported that the new method will reduce the financial and time costs associated with biological research of innovative cancer drugs, including those activated by light.
