Cancer affects every country regardless of financial status, medicinal infrastructure or the availability of highly skilled specialists and is responsible for 8.2 million deaths per year worldwide.  

Our vision for the future is to develop a series of light activated molecular nanomachines – nano-drills - to target cancerous cells selectively and safely eradicate them. We have already demonstrated that our nano-drills can selectively destroy cells using low energy biologically safe near-infra-red light activation. The efficacy of this method was demonstrated and has recently been published in Nature (2017, 548, 567-572). 

Prof Robert Pal collaborated with US researchers on the successful opening of cell membranes by using light to activate molecular nanomachines. These small molecular entities possess the ability to be activated, displaying a fast-rotating motion (such as a drill) upon light activation and rotate 3 million times per second. Using an extensive series of microscopical studies they have been shown to be able to burrow their way across the cell membrane, leaving a hole upon their wake.   

Targeting different cancer types is achieved by equipping the nanomachines with specific peptide recognition arms that anchor them exclusively and selectively onto the target cancer cells. Upon a short, safe dose of light activation, cancer cells are killed rapidly and safely due to these activated motors puncturing their membranes and destroying them by drilling through, leaving all healthy cells unaffected. One important aspect of this work is that due to the specifically targeted molecular action of the Nanomachines, cancer cells will never be able to develop resistance towards this novel therapeutic methodology. Such nanomachines show great promise in destroying cancer cells and are currently part of ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials in the US.   

The machines were synthesised by the research group of Professor James Tour at Rice University in the US, and tested on synthetic cell membranes by colleagues at North Carolina State University. Professor Tour gave three thought-provoking talks here as a Durham Lecturer in 2015. 

The research group is extremely passionate about public engagement with an overarching ethos of ‘Educate and Entertain’. Advancements in cancer therapeutics is a timely and extremely hot topic. Our research on light activated molecular nanomachines for photodynamic cancer therapeutics renders itself to be disseminated far and wide to inform the public about our findings, and to inspire the next generation of scientists. This allows us to translate our research aspirations and findings to an easy to understand, yet informative and scientifically detailed communication and hands on activity. We want to make the public feel that they are just as much part of our discoveries as us researchers ourselves, and raise awareness of other excellent researchers' projects. 

A friendly and fun yet informative public engagement activity not only raises awareness but also give an overall positive attitude and conception towards scientists. We always strive to inspire and empower the public with cutting edge knowledge and demonstrate that leading researchers are just as much humans as they are.  

We have translated our research into a fun demonstration kit, using remotely controlled, light-powered RC cars (Battlebots: defenders of mankind) as ‘nanomachines’ to pop glow in the dark balloons as ‘cancer cells’. Participants take the role of the molecular nanomachines (custom-made light-activated forklift trucks) and drive them round a battle arena (the human body) killing cancer cells (popping balloons). Participants must work in pairs to both activate the trucks with a torch and drive them with a remote control towards balloons that bear a small LED (to identify and differentiate them from healthy cells - unlit balloons) to pop them. We always aim to make our outreach activities available to as many people as possible. For neurodivergent children we offer active noise cancelling ear defenders. We also made the arena low wall so wheelchair users can access and participate too. We have delivered the activity to a wide range of academic ability participants in schools, science fairs and public engagement events/showcases and have experience adapting the depth of explanation to the target audience ad hoc.