The Nanobio Measurement Group at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has successfully developed a novel three-layer nanodisk material (AuFeAuNDs) capable of simultaneously achieving cancer diagnosis, treatment, and induction of immune responses. The research findings have been published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, providing a new technical solution for cancer therapy.

The nanodisks designed by the research team feature iron as the core and gold as the outer layers, forming a stable disk-shaped structure. KRISS researchers stated: "This structure offers better stability compared to traditional spherical nanomaterials and can be precisely guided to tumor sites using an external magnetic field." The material possesses photoacoustic imaging capabilities, enabling real-time tracking of drug delivery processes, and successfully identified the optimal treatment window in animal experiments.

This nanomaterial innovatively integrates three therapeutic mechanisms: photothermal therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and ferroptosis therapy. Experimental data showed that the number of immune cells can increase up to threefold after treatment. First author Dr. Eun-sook Lee noted: "Traditional nanomaterials typically possess only a single function, whereas our design fully leverages the properties of gold and iron to achieve multifunctional synergistic therapy."

This multifunctional nanomaterial overcomes the limitations of existing cancer treatments by not only precisely targeting tumor tissue but also activating the body's immune system, providing an important reference for developing next-generation cancer theranostic platforms. The researchers plan to further optimize material performance and advance its clinical application process.