Breakthrough cancer-targeting material developed by Oxford Brookes scientists

Scientists at Oxford Brookes University have made a major breakthrough in cancer research, developing a new material that can selectively destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue largely unaffected.

Created using a safe, environmentally friendly process, the discovery could lead to more targeted treatments with fewer side effects than conventional cancer therapies.

The study, published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’, reveals that the material is a newly engineered form of few-layer graphene (FLG)—a carbon-based substance just three to eight layers thick. Developed using a new, water-based technique that avoids toxic solvents, the FLG showed significant cancer-killing effects in laboratory tests, particularly against cervical cancer cells, while demonstrating high levels of compatibility with normal cells.

“This is an important stepping stone toward using graphene in real-world cancer treatments,” said Dr Amanpreet Kaur, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes University and lead researcher on the project. “Our bespoke method uses water-based solutions instead of toxic solvents, making it far safer for potential use in the human body.”

Graphene—an ultra-thin layer of carbon—has long been seen as a ‘wonder material’ for its strength, flexibility and conductivity. But concerns over its toxicity and biocompatibility—its safety for use in the human body—have slowed progress in medical applications. The Oxford Brookes team overcame these barriers by developing a green, scalable and cost-effective technique using a process called ultrasonic cavitation. This process produces high-quality FLG in under two hours, at an estimated cost of just $20 per gram—without any harmful chemicals.

In laboratory tests, over 90% of normal human cells remained healthy after exposure to the material. In contrast, cancer cells—particularly cervical cancer cells—were significantly damaged or destroyed. This suggests the potential for highly targeted treatments that minimise harm to healthy tissue, a major challenge in many current therapies.

“Graphene has always held promise for medicine, but safety was a major barrier,” said Professor Iakovos Tzanakis, Professor in Engineering Materials at Oxford Brookes and co-lead on the project. “We’ve now shown that, with the right approach, it can be both safe and effective.”

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) and the University of Crete in Greece, Sabanci University in Turkey, and Brunel University London. It also marks a significant milestone for Oxford Target Therapeutics Ltd, a spin-out company from Oxford Brookes focused on pioneering treatments for aggressive cancers.

Dr Victor M. Bolanos-Garcia, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Biochemistry at Oxford Brookes and founder of the company, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to have developed this material at Oxford Brookes. It could fill a gap in cancer therapy—particularly for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, which also affects men.”

The discovery builds on five years of research supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which funded the initial development of the eco- and biocompatible graphene. Further support from the Nanoscience Foundries and Fine Analysis-Europe (NFFA) programme enabled the team to conduct successful tests in both the UK and Greece.

“This is a major milestone and confirms the proof of concept,” said Dr Kaur. “Our next step is to understand exactly why cancer cells are more susceptible to this material—and to test it on a wider range of tumours,” added Professor Tzanakis.

The team is now seeking further funding to advance the research and move closer to clinical trials.

Read the paper, ‘Assessment of aqueous graphene as a cancer therapeutics delivery system’ in Scientific Reports.