New Iron Nanomaterial Wipes Out Cancer Cells Without Harming Healthy Tissue

Exploiting Cancer's Chemistry Against Itself

Researchers at Oregon State University have created a new iron-based nanomaterial designed to destroy cancer cells from the inside. The material activates two separate chemical reactions once inside a tumor cell, overwhelming it with oxidative stress while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed. The work was published in Advanced Functional Materials.

Advancing Chemodynamic Therapy

The discovery strengthens chemodynamic therapy (CDT) — an emerging cancer treatment strategy that exploits the unique chemical conditions inside tumors. Cancer cells are more acidic and contain higher hydrogen peroxide levels than normal tissue.

Traditional CDT: Uses tumor conditions to spark hydroxyl radicals that damage cells through oxidation

New nanomaterial: Simultaneously generates both hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen — a powerful dual attack

Mouse Trial Results

Led by Oleh Taratula, Olena Taratula, and Chao Wang from the OSU College of Pharmacy, the team completely eliminated breast cancer in mice without harming healthy tissue or causing side effects. "Existing CDT agents are limited," Oleh Taratula explained. "They efficiently generate either radical hydroxyls or singlet oxygen but not both." By combining the two reactive oxygen species, the new material creates a compounding oxidative assault that cancer cells cannot survive while healthy cells remain protected. This represents a meaningful step toward cancer therapies with fewer systemic side effects than traditional chemotherapy.