Scientists Develop Noninvasive Technique to Create Light Inside the Body

Stanford researchers use ultrasound and nanoparticles to generate controlled light deep within tissues without implants.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:07pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones depicts sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circular forms, and precise botanical spirals, visually representing the structural order and natural forces at work in an ultrasound-powered system for generating light deep within the body.An innovative ultrasound-powered technique enables the controlled generation of light deep within the body, opening new possibilities for light-based therapies and research.Stanford Today

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel technique that uses ultrasound waves to trigger nanoparticles circulating in the bloodstream to emit light at specific locations within the body. This method allows for the creation of controlled pockets of light deep inside living tissue without the need for physical implants or invasive procedures. The approach could enable new applications in biology, medicine, and gene editing by providing a noninvasive way to deliver light to targeted areas.

Why it matters

Getting light deep inside the body has long been a challenge, as tissue scatters and absorbs light, requiring invasive methods like implants or optical fibers. This new ultrasound-based approach provides a flexible, non-invasive solution that could expand the use of light-based therapies and research tools in areas like neuroscience, cancer treatment, and gene editing.

The details

The technique starts with ceramic nanoparticles that emit light when under mechanical stress. After injecting these particles into the bloodstream, focused ultrasound waves can trigger light emission at specific locations within the body. The researchers demonstrated the ability to create light in the brain, spinal cord, and other deep tissues, and even used the light to control neuronal activity and behavior in mice. While the current particles are not yet safe for human use due to potential organ accumulation, the team is exploring alternative materials to make the approach clinically viable.

  • The research findings were published in the journal Nature Materials in April 2026.

The players

Guosong Hong

An assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University and the senior author on the research paper.

Michael Lin

A professor of neurobiology and bioengineering at Stanford University, who is collaborating with Guosong Hong to explore pairing this light-producing system with light-activated gene-editing platforms.

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What they’re saying

“Ultrasound is very convenient to use, and it penetrates much deeper into the body than light. With these materials, we can produce light emission in the brain, in the gut, in the spinal cord, in the muscle, virtually anywhere, without needing a physical implant.”

— Guosong Hong, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University

“We can noninvasively tune this emission in different brain regions to produce a variety of behavioral outcomes.”

— Guosong Hong, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University

What’s next

The researchers are already experimenting with materials that emit ultraviolet light, which could potentially be used to kill bacteria and viruses. They are also collaborating to explore pairing this light-producing system with light-activated gene-editing platforms, which could enable more targeted and controlled gene editing.

The takeaway

This novel ultrasound-based technique for generating controlled light deep within the body without invasive implants represents a significant breakthrough that could expand the use of light-based therapies and research tools in fields like neuroscience, cancer treatment, and gene editing, once safety concerns around the current nanoparticles are addressed.