Release date: 2017-10-09

Speaking of one of the four treasures of the Wenfang, every Chinese is familiar. For thousands of years, whether it is hanging wrist writing or Dan Qing painting, the literati master's desk is inseparable from it.

The latest findings of the research team of Yang Wuli reveal that the connotation of ink may not stop there: it can not only carry information on paper, but also kill cancer cells. The study was published in the recent ACS Omega.

Why is China ink?

Why is the anti-cancer field eyeing the ancient Chinese ink? Originally, the researchers found that Hu Kaiwen ink has similarities with the artificial nanomaterials used in a new type of anticancer treatment, photothermal therapy (PTT).

Photothermal therapy mainly involves the selective accumulation of nanomaterials with near-infrared photothermal conversion to the tumor site, and then only localized near-infrared illumination of the tumor, and the nanomaterials between the tumor cells and the cells absorb near-infrared light and are efficiently converted into Thermal energy can cause tumors to produce local ultra-high temperatures, thereby killing tumor cells. Due to the low distribution of nanomaterials in normal tissues around the tumor, it is guaranteed that normal tissue will not be damaged during treatment.

But one of the challenges facing the therapy is finding the right material to infuse into the body. Some artificial nanomaterials have been used by scientists for photothermal therapy research—including engineering carbon nanotubes and graphene—but these materials are either toxic or expensive or difficult to manufacture.

Excellent PTT material

Smooth, stable black ink attracts the attention of scientists. In fact, the various properties of Hu Kaiwen ink show that it is very suitable for PTT materials: it is easy to absorb light and heat black, stable in water, cheap and simple to manufacture, and most importantly - non-toxic to the body.

To test this hypothesis, the researchers analyzed the ink in the aqueous dispersion and found that it was aggregated from small carbon nanoparticles that heated to 55 degrees Celsius after only 5 minutes of near-infrared illumination. Most artificial PTT materials have greater heat absorption. More importantly, the ink exhibits great stability, which means it retains these properties for long periods of time.

The researchers explained: "We found that the photothermal effect of Hu Kaiwen ink did not change after 90 days of storage, which means that Hu Kaiwen ink can provide a stable photothermal effect."

In vivo PPT treatment results. Image source: ACS Omega

Cell and animal experiments are gratifying

Subsequent laboratory studies have found that under normal conditions, the ink and human cells are biocompatible in the culture dish. When the cancer cells are killed by heat, the concentration of Hu Kaiwen ink is increased under the same laser intensity. A higher anti-cancer efficiency.

In the mouse test, this ink was also very effective, killing more cancer cells than conventional PTT treatment, and no toxicity was found during animal injection. The researchers said: "In the pathological section of the main organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys, no pathological damage was found. The weight of the mice did not change throughout the treatment. Therefore, Hu Kai Wenmo has no obvious side effects and has good biocompatibility."

As for whether it is equally pleasing to see in human trials, it is still an open question, but the research team believes it is necessary to conduct research in human trials. If you can get the desired results, this ancient ink may play a more important role in human life - saving lives.

Source: Bio-Exploration

Hanging Fire Extinguisher

Hanging Fire Extinguisher,Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher,Fire Extinguisher Equipment,Automobile Automatic Fire Extinguisher

DONGGUAN TENYU TECH.INC , https://www.tenyutech.com