Hydrogen Nanobubbles in Lab Tests for Eye Cancer Radiation
Hydrogen nanobubbles: A novel approach toward radio-sensitization agents
Research hubs: Eyes & Vision System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Samaneh Hashemi, Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Aghamiri, Zahra Siavashpour, Mahdi Kahani, Habib Zaidi, Ramin Jaberi
- Journal
- Medical Physics
- Year
- 2023
- PMID
- 37278345
- Study Type
- Molecular Assay
- Delivery
- Gas
- H₂ concentration
- 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 1%, 4%
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 6 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Iran
TL;DR
Tiny hydrogen bubbles can significantly boost the effectiveness of a specific radiation treatment for eye cancer, potentially shortening treatment time and reducing side effects.
Key Finding
Hydrogen nanobubbles increased radiation dose delivery to eye tumors by up to 300% depending on concentration, with a 1% concentration achieving a 93-98% dose enhancement at the tumor site.
Summary
This study tested whether tiny hydrogen bubbles (100 nanometers in diameter) could make radiation therapy more effective for treating eye melanoma (a type of eye cancer). Researchers used computer simulations and a 3D-printed model of an eye to measure how much radiation dose was delivered when hydrogen nanobubbles were present. They found that higher concentrations of these bubbles significantly increased the radiation dose reaching the tumor, potentially allowing shorter treatment times and less damage to healthy eye tissue.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage laboratory research using computer models and eye phantoms (not human eyes or patients), so it cannot yet inform real-world treatment decisions. While the results are promising for potentially improving eye cancer radiotherapy, significant additional research—including safety testing and human trials—would be needed before hydrogen nanobubbles could be considered for clinical use.
Abstract (excerpt)
AbstractBackgroundOcular melanoma is a rare kind of eye malignancy that threatens the patient's eyesight. Radiotherapy and surgical removal are the most commonly used therapeutic modalities, and nanomedicine has lately entered this field. Brachytherapy using Ruthenium‐106 (106Ru) ophthalmic plaques…