Empa Researchers Develop Light Activated Nanozyme Therapy to Target Brain Tumors

Empa researcher Giacomo Reina and his team are developing nanozymes that aim to improve the treatment of brain tumors. Image: Empa

(IN BRIEF) Empa and HOCH Health Ostschweiz have launched a research project to develop nanozyme-based therapies for treating aggressive brain tumors such as astrocytoma, using near-infrared light to activate the treatment directly at the tumor site. The approach aims to overcome the limitations of the blood-brain barrier by applying biocompatible nanomaterials during surgery, allowing for targeted and controlled destruction of cancer cells while minimizing side effects. Supported by several foundations, the project combines advanced nanotechnology with precision medicine techniques and is expected to progress toward clinical testing within four years. If successful, the therapy could improve survival rates, reduce recurrence, and offer a new treatment option for patients with tumors that are resistant to conventional methods, while also opening possibilities for treating other neurological cancers.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜBENDORF, 30-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers at Empa, in collaboration with the hospital network HOCH Health Ostschweiz, have launched a new research project aimed at improving treatment options for aggressive brain tumors using nanozyme-based therapies activated by near-infrared light. The initiative focuses particularly on astrocytoma, a highly invasive and difficult-to-treat tumor with low survival rates and a high likelihood of recurrence.

In Empa’s Nanomaterials in Health laboratory in St. Gallen, researchers are investigating the anti-tumor effect of nanozymes using advanced human cell culture systems like 3D organoids or organ-on-a-chip models. The image shows a patient-derived Glioblastoma spheroid representing an in vitro model of the tumor (green: viable cells, red: dead cells, blue= cell nuclei). Image: Selina Camenisch / Empa

The project is supported by multiple foundations, including the Hedy Glor-Meyer Foundation and the Swiss Cancer Foundation, enabling the team to begin developing a novel therapeutic approach that could complement existing treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

One of the main challenges in treating brain tumors is the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances but also limits the effectiveness of many drugs. To address this, the research team, led by Giacomo Reina and neurosurgeon Isabel Hostettler, is developing biocompatible nanozymes that can be applied directly to tumor tissue during surgery. This localized approach allows the treatment to bypass the blood-brain barrier and target cancer cells more effectively.

The active ingredients in the nanozyme preparation are activated by light in the near-infrared range to kill tumor cells directly in the affected tissue. Image: Empa

Nanozymes are engineered nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties that can trigger therapeutic effects within the tumor environment. Once applied, these particles accumulate in cancerous tissue due to the cells’ high metabolic activity. Their therapeutic action can then be activated using near-infrared light, allowing for precise control over when and where the treatment takes effect.

This approach combines multiple mechanisms to attack tumor cells, including the activation of drug precursors and the generation of reactive oxygen species that damage malignant cells. Due to their small size, nanozymes can penetrate deeper into tissue, reaching cancer cells beyond the immediate surgical area. The light-activated mechanism also allows for controlled dosing, potentially reducing side effects compared to conventional therapies.

The research team plans to develop the technology over the next four years, with the goal of preparing the nanomedicine for clinical testing as a minimally invasive addition to existing treatment methods. The researchers believe that this approach could not only improve outcomes for astrocytoma patients but also help reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence, particularly in cases where resistance to traditional chemotherapy has developed.

Beyond astrocytoma, the technology may also have broader applications in treating other brain and spinal cord tumors. The project forms part of Empa’s wider oncology initiative, which brings together expertise in materials science, imaging, and advanced biological models to develop innovative cancer therapies.

Media Contacts:

Dr. Giacomo Reina
Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 7344
giacomo.reina@empa.ch

Zukunftsfonds

Loris Pandiani
Empa Zukunftsfonds
Phone +41 58 765 47 03
loris.pandiani@empa.ch

Dr. Andrea Six
Communications
Phone +41 58 765 6133
redaktion@empa.ch

SOURCE: Empa