Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi announced on Apr. 7 the development of smart molecules that can both detect and treat cancer, providing a new approach to care.
This advancement is significant because it addresses the need for more precise and safer cancer diagnosis and therapy. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, centers on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is widely used to visualize tumors inside the body. Traditionally, MRI agents are only used for diagnosis; however, these newly developed molecules combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions in one system.
The NYU Abu Dhabi team designed interlocked molecular structures made from manganese and organic components. These molecules remain inactive in healthy tissue but become active within tumors due to their slightly more acidic environment. Once activated, they release manganese ions that enhance MRI contrast while also damaging cancer cells.
Thirumurugan Prakasam, a research scientist in the Trabolsi group at NYU Abu Dhabi, synthesized these compounds. The researchers demonstrated that these molecules could cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in glioblastoma tumors—an aggressive form of brain cancer—allowing for clear imaging as well as a therapeutic effect.
The use of manganese-based compounds presents a safer alternative to gadolinium-based MRI agents, which can accumulate in patients' bodies and cause side effects. Professor of Chemistry Ali Trabolsi said: "The unique structure of these molecules gives them capabilities that traditional drugs simply do not have."
According to the researchers, this innovation introduces a new generation of MRI agents capable of both diagnosing and treating cancers with greater precision. The work was supported by core technology platforms at NYU Abu Dhabi.
