Summary
Researchers have created a heat-activated patch to treat melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. The patch uses copper ions to kill cancer cells without surgery and has shown promising results in initial tests on mice.
Key Facts
- The patch is designed to treat melanoma by being placed directly on the skin above cancer cells.
- When heated, the patch releases copper ions to target and kill cancer cells.
- In early tests, the patch reduced melanoma tumors significantly in mice.
- The patch does not harm the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that spreads quickly, making it difficult to treat.
- The patch uses nanotechnology and is made from a material called laser-induced graphene.
- It can be activated by a low-power laser and has shown a 97% reduction in tumor size in mice.
- Researchers found no harmful buildup of copper ions in the animals tested.
