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Scientists from the University of Aveiro, located in Portugal, are developing an innovative method for cancer therapy involving carbon nanocapsules, which may greatly enhance the delivery of radiotherapy.

The CarboNCT initiative is, for the first time, exploring the application of lithium-6 as a substitute for conventional boron-10—the element typically employed in a method known as Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT). The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy while reducing harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

Using this approach, it will be feasible to insert a specific element into cancer cells that, when exposed to neutrons, initiate a nuclear reaction able to generate sufficient energy to eliminate them. This process is notable for its extremely limited range, functioning almost exclusively at the level of a single cell.

Historically, this method has relied on boron-10. Nevertheless, researchers at the University of Aveiro are investigating the benefits of lithium-6 to enhance treatment effectiveness and accuracy.

Gil Gonçalves, a researcher from the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the project’s main coordinator, refers to the capsules as “multifunctional,” created to carry high levels of active isotopes while improving the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

One of the major difficulties in this treatment is making sure that the active component arrives at the cancer cells in adequate amounts. These tiny structures enhance the compound’s stability and enable a more precise delivery, thereby minimizing possible harmful side effects.

“The findings we have achieved are highly encouraging. The nanocapsules have exhibited strong biocompatibility in non-cancerous cells and have displayed efficient accumulation in tumor cells,” stated Gonçalves.

Furthermore, the inherent fluorescence of the nanoparticles allows for tracking their location within cells, which may serve as an effective method for observing therapy progress.

The initiative is being carried out by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra and the University of Pavia, within the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy (LENA).

If subsequent findings validate the promise shown so far, this method may progress to clinical use, fostering the creation of a new wave of medications for neutron therapy, according to the University.

Cancer remains among the top causes of mortality across the globe, and it is also one of the most significant obstacles confronting contemporary medical science.

The number of new cancer cases in Portugal is projected to rise by approximately 20 percent by 2040, a rate that exceeds the European Union’s estimate of an 18 percent increase. At thePortuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) in Porto(source in Portuguese)Alone, 10,000 new instances of cancer are identified annually.