In addition to display and lighting, the application of LED technology in the medical field is also progressing. Research has found that LED technology creates possibilities for treating cancer.

It is reported that researchers at Waseda University in Japan have developed an implantable device consisting of LED chips and bioadhesive nanoflakes, which can successfully reduce tumors in mice through photodynamic therapy. The research results were published on July 16, 2018 in the Nature Biomedical Engineering journal.

Rhythmic photodynamic therapy is a long-term treatment with low-dose special drugs and special illumination to kill cancer cells. To use rhythmic photodynamic therapy, the researchers designed implantable devices on the inner surface of animal tissue, where the device can deliver low-intensity illumination to treat targeted lesions for therapeutic purposes.

The team said that compared to traditional photodynamic therapy, the device reduces light intensity by a factor of 1000, avoiding damage to normal tissues while effectively treating tumors. According to Research Team Captain Toshinori Fujie, surgery or radiation therapy for cancerous tumors in the body, such as the brain or pancreas, is risky, and implantable devices may play an important role in treatment.

In particular, by installing a rhythmic photodynamic therapy device directly at the site of the targeted lesion, it is possible to reduce the threat to healthy areas.