A radioactive gel has been developed for the destruction of cancerous tumors

American and Indian scientists have introduced a radioactive protein-based gel to destroy hard-to-eliminate tumors.

The results of the research were published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Current radiotherapy methods that rely on gamma radiation or accelerated particles (such as protons, neutrons, and others) affect cancerous tumors but also have negative effects on healthy cells. The new discovery will allow for targeted impact on neoplasms without penetrating neighboring tissues.

The gel is composed of protein-elastin and iodine-131. The unstable nuclei of the compound emit beta radiation during decay, which does not penetrate as deeply as gamma rays. Additionally, elastin remains liquid at room temperature, but when introduced into the body and heated, it takes on a gel-like consistency.

The new discovery completely destroyed tumors in 80% of subjects in experiments conducted on mice implanted with cancer cells.