Rhodes professor at forefront of novel cancer treatment
Specially developed dyes direct deadly light on to targeted cells
Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong is pioneering research into photodynamic therapy which looks at harnessing light for cancer therapy and environmental cleanup.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses specially developed dyes to direct deadly light onto cancer cells, and is being researched all over the world as an alternative to chemotherapy.
The world-famous professor is the force behind the journey of Rhodes University’s department of nanotechnology innovation, fuelled by her passion to showcase and convince Africans of their understated abilities.
The dye is injected into the bloodstream or applied directly to the skin. PDT is combined with quantum dots (QD), which are nanoparticles that absorb and then re-emit light, thus enabling scientists to target the cancer cells with red light allowing for an efficient cancer treatment involving the photosensitisation and imaging of these QD to kill the cancer cells.
“When I was younger, I actually wanted to introduce this treatment to the whole country.
“At that time it wasn’t Covid-19 but Aids killing us, and with Aids came a lot of cancer of the skin which is easy to treat.
“Rather than go through chemotherapy for skin cancer, one could just take [the dye solution], apply on the cancerous cell, shine a laser light and it will just kill the cancer in that area.”
These dyes have primarily been developed overseas and Nyokong said that more research was needed to establish which dyes were most efficient in the harsh African sunlight.
“Any amount of the drug on healthy tissue (such as the skin) is affected by the smallest amount of sunlight, even indoors, “said Nyokong.
However, Nyokong said the treatment was restrained by SA’s laws and protocols where the development of treatments was concerned.
Nyokong said Africans lacked belief in themselves and that was why she was so passionate about her cause to produce self-confident African scientists.
“We don’t believe in ourselves. We don’t believe that someone just like me can develop something.
“My passion is to change the mentality that good work only happens in Europe.
“Regardless of who you are and where you come from, your brain is not governed by that“, said Nyokong.
She said it was unfortunate that the medical controls council did not trust African scientists to develop their own solutions.
“We need to trust ourselves and our scientists.”
Another aspect of Nyokong’s research is pollution control.
One of the methods for the purification of water is photochemical destruction of pollutants (such as chlorinate phenols and other pesticides) using ultraviolet light.
She has received numerous accolades and awards from national organisations, industry, the president, international bodies, and honorary doctorates from other universities.
Among the huge number of acknowledgments that recognise her immense contribution, and the international leadership role that she plays, are the 2010 CEOs Most Influential Women in the Education and Teaching Sector, inducted into the Vodacom Lesotho Hall of Fame in 2010, named as the Royal Society in Chemistry)/ PACN (Pan African Chemistry Network) International Distinguished Women in Chemistry in 2011, and she was invited by the Unesco director-general to sit on the newly announced Unesco High Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation for Development.
Rhodes University vice-chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela recently launched the construction of the nanotechology innovation building which will cost about R90m. The state-of-the-art building will house a global Institute for nanotechnology innovation (INI).
The new building will be the first of its kind on the African continent to provide cuttingedge technology and fit-for-purpose research facilities.
Mabizela said the construction of the new INI building was a significant milestone in the history of Rhodes University as a research-intensive university.
“The new building will stand as a monument and a fitting tribute to the many years of ground-breaking intellectual contribution of Nyokong and her legion of students and international collaborators. It is a culmination of many years of hard work, dedication, and commitment,” said Mabizela.
Mabizela recommended that the name of the new building be “Tebello Nyokong Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation.” He applauded Nyokong for advancing the vision of the university and for creating a place that continued to unleash creativity, promote innovation, and foster intellectual curiosity.
The construction of the new building will take about 18 months. With a strong focus on research and postgraduate training, every INI graduate has an international footprint as they are equipped with exposure to make them world-class scientists with published research.
Rather than go through chemotherapy ... one could just take [the dye solution], apply on the cancerous cell, shine a laser light and it will just kill the cancer in that area
The new building will stand as a monument and a fitting tribute to the many years of ground-breaking intellectual contribution of Nyokong and her legion of students