British scientists have unveiled a glowing bandage that not only treats wounds but destroys skin cancer cells with light.
A flexible strip of plastic embedded with light-emitting diodes focuses a high-powered red light beam on tumors. When the light is absorbed by a special skin cream, cancer cells are killed.
The laser bandage allows patients to receive treatment without having to submit to hours of inactivity under lights in a clinic or hospital.
Polymertronics and Lumicure are two companies currently pursuing this general technology.
The video above gives basic information about photodynamic therapy in cosmetic applications: The principle is the same for cancer treatment.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Wearable Photodynamic Therapy
- Developing lightweight and portable light-emitting-diode devices to treat cancers and wounds.
- Personalized Medicine
- Using new technologies that enable cancer treatment outside of hospitals and clinics.
- Nano-scale Technology in Medical Science
- Incorporating nanotechnology in the development of light-activated cancer treatments.
Sectors Adopting This
- Healthcare
- Innovations in wearable medical devices and light-based cancer treatments provide disruptive opportunities.
- Pharmaceutical
- Collaborating with research institutions to develop personalized photodynamic therapy-based cancer treatment and wound healing products.
- Nanotechnology
- Nanotech researchers can collaborate with medical institutions to create products that use the technology in light-activated cancer treatments.
