Researchers led by Professor Eijiro Miyako at JAIST have developed multifunctional nanocomposites by coating liquid metal  gallium indium alloy with lactic acid bacteria components and indocyanine green, a near infrared fluorescent dye. These nanocomposites exhibit strong tumor targeting capability through the EPR effect  selectively accumulating in colorectal cancer tumors in mice. Upon near infrared light irradiation, they achieved multidimensional therapeutic effects  cancer visualization diagnosis via fluorescence, immunotherapy through bacterial components, and photothermal therapy from liquid metal heat conversion 

In mouse models, just two short treatments  5 minutes daily over two dayswith near infrared laser irradiation completely eliminated tumors within 5 days Safety assays  including cytotoxicity, blood testing, and biocompatibility studies, confirmed that the nanocomposites maintained stability, high membrane compatibility, and no toxicity  while offering efficient photothermal conversion. Control studies showed that neither lactic acid bacteria alone nor immune inactive nanoparticles could achieve comparable results, underscoring the unique synergistic effects of immune activation and liquid metal-based therapy 

Fabricated through a simple ultrasonic mixing method, the nanocomposites remained stable for over 7 days and generated localized heating under near infrared irradiation. In vivo fluorescence confirmed selective tumor accumulation after intravenous administration, and subsequent near infrared irradiation 740 808 nm triggered both diagnosis and treatment. This work establishes a foundation for nanotechnology driven photoimmunotherapy  integrating optical imaging with cancer therapy.

Professor Miyako s team is advancing this approach by leveraging tumor associated bacterial communities and combining them with liquid metal properties for selective delivery. These nanocomposites represent a promising platform for next generation cancer diagnosis and treatment, with potential applications across diverse tumor types. Future work will expand to other cancers and further validate safety and efficacy, aiming to realize more effective and less invasive clinical therapies through the interdisciplinary integration of nanotechnology optics and immunology

source:https://phys.org/news/2025-09-multifunctional-liquid-metal-nanocomposites-cancer.html