Scientists from Belarus and China have achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against cancer, developing polymeric nanoparticles that, when activated with ultrasound, destroy tumor cells while also training the immune system to continue fighting the disease.

The project, led by the Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in collaboration with Donghua University in Shanghai, represents a new generation of more precise and less invasive oncological therapies.

How Does Sonodynamic Therapy Work?

The nanoparticles engineered by the research team share one critical characteristic: when administered, they accumulate selectively in tumor cells.

Once concentrated in the affected tissue, scientists apply ultrasound directly to the tumor. The particles react and trigger a response that destroys cancerous cells — a process known as sonodynamic therapy.

The findings go further still. The research team observed that this process also activates an immune response against the malignant tumor, effectively turning the patient's own body into an ally in fighting the disease.

Next steps include additional research phases to confirm the safety and efficacy of the treatment in humans. If validated, this nanotherapy could become a revolutionary tool in oncology worldwide.

A Promising Future for Cancer Treatment

This dual effect — tumor destruction combined with immune system activation — opens a compelling avenue for treatments that are both more effective and associated with fewer side effects than current standard-of-care options.

The research, conducted initially in animal models using mice, demonstrated successful results in the selective accumulation of nanoparticles and in their capacity to eliminate cancer cells.

Innovation Across BRICS Nations

The Belarusian-Chinese development is part of a broader wave of cancer treatment innovations driven by BRICS member countries:

India: Development of magnetic nanoparticles that use hyperthermia — localized heating — to destroy tumor cells by raising their temperature to 46°C.

Egypt: Incorporation of new immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of liver cancer at specialized medical centers.

Scientific Cooperation in the Global South

The Belarus-China partnership reflects a growing trend: scientific cooperation among Global South countries is yielding concrete results in strategic fields such as healthcare.

While traditional powers concentrate their investments in high-cost pharmaceuticals, BRICS nations are pursuing collaborative research that could democratize access to innovative therapies worldwide.