[pitdicker]

I wondered what makes these 'molecular jackhammers' attack only cancer cells. The trick is that they are dye molecules, which can be engineered to attach to a specific biomolecule.

[Terr_]

Also the fact that they're activated/powered by an external light source, meaning it's fine if they accidentally bind to healthy cells as long as those cells are not within the area getting beamed.

[fnordpiglet]

Would be better if it worked against ultrasound, xray, or other focusable beams that can pass through flesh.

[adamredwoods]

Near infra-red light (NIR) can get past the skin, but not by much. 3cm maybe?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4552256/

[appplication]

The study is on melanoma so that’s probably acceptable for this use case.