Wireless Quantum Tech Triumphs Over Cancer Cells

 

In 2022 approximately 20 million new cancer cases were reported worldwide, leading to 9. 7 million cancer-related deaths. Traditional therapies exhibit severe side effects and poor success rates. These alarming figures clearly indicated the need for more effective treatment. Recent scientific studies unveiled that the combination of quantum mechanics and nanotechnology can target cancer cells in a unique manner, which offers us a chance to win the fight against cancer. Quantum tunneling, a phenomenon within quantum mechanics, enables wavefunctions to traverse potential barriers with their transmission influenced by the size of the barrier. Leveraging quantum mechanics unveils the consequential role it plays in biological systems ranging from DNA structure to critical cellular processes, such as respiration and homeostasis maintenance through electron transfer. Such electron transfer controlled by quantum phenomena like tunnelling, is denoted as quantum biological tunneling for electron transfer (QBET).

     

Design of Bio-Nanoantennae

The gold nanoparticles (GNPs) act as bipolar nanoelectrodes within the cells by using nanotechnology to manage the quantum mechanical processes, especially under external electric fields (EFs). These nanoparticles, polarize under external electric fields, which trigger electrochemically activated redox reactions. Cyt c (Cytochrome c), a major electron carrier found in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, is probably the most critical molecule in this chain of events as it undergoes redox transitions of iron (Fe2+ to Fe3+ and vice versa) that are critical in cellular function. The carboxylic acid and the PEG were used for the surface treatment purpose of the GNPs to obtain carboxylic PEG-modified nanoparticles.  

Nanoscale wireless electrochemistry and in vitro QBET

Integrating GNPs with electron-carrier Cyt c and a redox mediator, like zinc porphyrin, researchers developed nanostructures that can initiate specific processes in cells in response to the presence of electricity. These structures are called bio-nanoantennae. AC electric fields (EFs) are known to reduce cell membrane impedance at higher frequencies, facilitating penetration into the cytoplasm. These AC electric fields produce alternation signals activating different molecules in the cell, ending up with cell death mediated by apoptosis.

Electrical–molecular quantum signalling

Transcriptomics data helped in the understanding of the complicated biochemical pathways involved in the molecular-electrical communicative process. This enables scientists to achieve selectively targeted apoptosis by resonant electrical inputs that control the redox state of Cyt c at the surface of bio-nanoantennae. Fine-tuning the voltage and frequency selectively switches the oxidation-reduction state (redox state) of molecules. Through the application of a voltage density of about 65 V cm^-1 and at a frequency of 3 MHz, researchers obtained the most promising findings. These factors trigger programmed cell death in glioblastoma (GBM) cells obtained from patients.

The ability to control biological activities at the molecular level demonstrates a high potential for nanomedicine. Such an innovation in wireless molecular-electrical communication technology holds great promise in reforming cancer therapies giving people accurate and targeted interventions that potentially save thousands of lives.

References:

1. Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2024 Feb. https://dr2pp.oss.ns-svc.cn/bj/bjGD/bjGDxaflDAm7Vx9FQ1bq.pdf
2. Jain A, Gosling J, Liu S, Wang H, Stone EM, Chakraborty S, Jayaraman PS, Smith S, Amabilino DB, Fromhold M, Long YT. Wireless electrical–molecular quantum signalling for cancer cell apoptosis. Nature nanotechnology. 2024 Jan;19(1):106-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01496-y

Image Credits:

1. COVER IMAGE: Novigenix - https://novigenix.com/novigenix-announces-first-closing-of-its-20m-series-b/#iLightbox[gallery6708]/0
2. Nature Nanotechnology Journal - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-023-01496-y/figures/1