Abu Dhabi scientists create cancer-busting substances that show up on MRI scans

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

ABU DHABI: Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed a new class of ‘smart’ molecules that can simultaneously detect and destroy cancer cells. This breakthrough in ‘theranostics’ a field combining therapy and diagnostics could significantly increase the precision of cancer treatment by allowing doctors to track the exact location of a drug within the body in real-time.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, focuses on complex, interlocked molecules that resemble microscopic knots and rings. Unlike traditional cancer drugs, which are typically small and simple, these manganese-based substances remain inactive in healthy tissue but ‘activate’ when they encounter the acidic environment common in tumors. Once active, the molecules release manganese ions that enhance MRI contrast and trigger a therapeutic effect that damages cancer cells.

A key success of the research was the molecules' ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In laboratory tests, the substances effectively suppressed the growth of glioblastoma, an aggressive and notoriously difficult-to-treat brain cancer in mice. 

Professor Ali Trabolsi, the lead researcher, noted that being able to follow a drug's path after injection offers a much higher chance of success than current methods, as it allows for chemical adjustments if the drug fails to reach its target.

Crucially, the researchers found that these large molecules are eliminated from the body within 72 hours, suggesting a low risk of long-term toxicity. While the technology has currently only been tested on animals, the team hopes these findings will encourage the medical community to shift away from small-molecule drugs toward more complex, multi-functional platforms that enable personalized, high-precision healthcare.