Molecular motors drive new non-invasive cancer therapies

Imagine tiny machines, smaller than a virus, spinning inside cancer cells and rewiring their behavior from within. No surgery, no harsh chemicals, just precision at the molecular level.

Two researchers from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University are investigating light-activated molecular motors—nanometer-sized machines that can apply mechanical forces from within cells to target and selectively disrupt cancerous activity.

Chemical engineering professor Dr. Jorge Seminario and postdoctoral associate Dr. Diego Galvez-Aranda have contributed to pioneering research by demonstrating a new frontier in non-invasive cancer therapies. The recently published manuscript in the Journal of the American Chemical Society continues this line of investigation.

Unlike conventional treatments that rely on chemical agents, these molecular machines use light to trigger mechanical action within the cell itself, targeting proteins and other cellular structures.

“The most significant aspect of this work is the proof that internal mechanical forces, which are created by light-activated molecular machines, can specifically and effectively modulate cell behavior,” Galvez-Aranda said. “This is a big departure from existing approaches that largely rely on chemical agents to manipulate cells.”

Molecular motors are tiny machines that convert chemical energy into mechanical motion, enabling molecular rotation. When stimulated with light, they can spin at orientations and speeds, and their effects on cells vary depending on how long the motors are activated, Galvez-Aranda explained.

“This could have relevance in diseases with existing chemical therapeutics that have unpleasant and often debilitating side effects or to treat diseases where existing drugs provide very limited efficacy, like many cancer and chronic diseases,” he said.

Researchers tested four molecular motors with similar chemical properties but changed their composition to ensure different rotation rates when stimulated by light. Experiments measuring cell death and calcium release showed that motors with slower rotation were less effective at influencing biological processes.

When a molecular motor spins, it acts from inside the cell, altering cell behavior and function at the molecular level. Galvez-Aranda believes this approach could reduce damage to normal tissues by eliminating the need for chemical agents.

Chemical agents are typically used to control cell behavior but act from outside the cell. In contrast, molecular motors apply mechanical forces from within the cell.

“In short, the key achievement is proving that mechanical forces can be performed at the molecular level, as a new type of tool for medical intervention, which can fundamentally change how we plan the definition of interventions in the future,” Galvez-Aranda said.

Galvez-Aranda believes that the molecular motors could also offer new insights into how cells function. He said a better understanding of mechanical forces at the cellular level may help researchers discover new biological processes and identify new therapeutic targets.

“These techniques allow researchers to simulate the behavior of atoms, molecules, clusters, crystals and amorphous materials with exceptional accuracy, especially at scales below a few nanometers,” Seminario said. “This complements experimental approaches, which remain more practical for larger systems.”

These new processes could provide a more in-depth insight into the emerging fields of synthetic biology and nanotechnology.

“This will drive discoveries and/or applications towards the design and manufacture of synthetic nano-robots or smart molecules that can perform various tasks inside a human body, such as repair tissue or deliver drug doses with incredible precision,” Galvez-Aranda said.

This approach could reduce the need for invasive therapies for patients, lower surgical procedures and limit patients’ exposure to harmful chemicals.

“Our research group is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. Dr. Galvez-Aranda and our team are deeply engaged in advancing both ab initio (first principles) and AI-driven computational methods to pioneer the next generation of materials discovery,” Seminario said.