# Light Bandages to Cure Cancer Portable Photodynamic Therapy Makes Treatment Easier By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-05-11 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-bandage-to-cure-cancer-portable-photodynamic-therapy-is-easier-treatm References: [dailymail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1179090/Glowing-plaster-destroys-skin-cancer-zapping-light-unveiled.html) 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](http://www.polymertronics.com/Home.html) and [Lumicure](http://www.lumicure.com/) 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 21% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Enabled Smart Bandages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-smart-bandages.md) - [Connected Monitoring Bandages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wound-bandage.md) - [Ai Burn Treatment Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retune.md) - [Wound-Sanitizing Blue Light Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wound-care-device.md) - [Red Light-Therapy Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kineon-design-labs.md) - [Blemish-Busting LED Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omnilux-mini-blemish-eraser.md) - [Wearable Light Therapy Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/move-pro.md) - [Light Therapy Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lipo-wrap-led.md) - [Color-Changing Wound Dressings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colorchanging-wound-dressings.md)