OSU Researchers Develop Cancer-Killing Nanomaterial

New nanoagent triggers dual chemical reactions to eradicate tumors in mice

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:15am

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Scientists at Oregon State University have developed a new nanomaterial that triggers a pair of chemical reactions inside cancer cells, killing the cells via oxidative stress while leaving healthy tissues alone. The findings advance the field of chemodynamic therapy, an emerging treatment approach based on the distinctive biochemical environment found in cancer cells.

Why it matters

This new nanomaterial represents a significant advancement in chemodynamic therapy, which aims to leverage the unique properties of cancer cells to selectively destroy them. By generating both hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen, the nanoagent is able to more effectively damage and kill cancer cells compared to existing CDT treatments.

The details

The iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoagent developed by the OSU researchers is able to efficiently generate both hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen, two highly reactive oxygen species that can damage cancer cells through oxidation. Existing CDT agents have been limited in that they can only effectively produce one type of reactive oxygen species. The new MOF nanoagent showed potent toxicity against multiple cancer cell lines while having negligible impact on healthy cells. When tested in mice with human breast cancer, the nanoagent completely eradicated the tumors without any adverse effects.

  • The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials this week (January 28, 2026).
  • The researchers plan to further evaluate the nanoagent's efficacy against other cancer types, including aggressive pancreatic cancer, before moving towards human trials.

The players

Oleh Taratula

Lead researcher and professor at the OSU College of Pharmacy.

Olena Taratula

Lead researcher and professor at the OSU College of Pharmacy.

Chao Wang

Researcher at the OSU College of Pharmacy and co-author of the study.

Kongbrailatpam Shitaljit Sharma

Researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study.

National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health

Funding agency for the research.

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What they’re saying

“However, existing CDT agents are limited. They efficiently generate either radical hydroxyls or singlet oxygen but not both, and they often lack sufficient catalytic activity to sustain robust reactive oxygen species production. Consequently, preclinical studies often only show partial tumor regression and not a durable therapeutic benefit.”

— Oleh Taratula, Lead researcher and professor at the OSU College of Pharmacy

“When we systemically administered our nanoagent in mice bearing human breast cancer cells, it efficiently accumulated in tumors, robustly generated reactive oxygen species and completely eradicated the cancer without adverse effects. We saw total tumor regression and long-term prevention of recurrence, all without seeing any systemic toxicity.”

— Olena Taratula, Lead researcher and professor at the OSU College of Pharmacy

What’s next

Before this treatment can be tested in humans, the research team plans to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in various cancer types, including aggressive pancreatic cancer, to demonstrate its broad applicability across different malignancies.

The takeaway

This new nanomaterial represents a significant advancement in chemodynamic therapy, a promising approach that leverages the unique properties of cancer cells to selectively destroy them. By generating both hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen, the nanoagent is able to more effectively damage and kill cancer cells compared to existing CDT treatments, potentially leading to more durable and complete tumor regression.