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NYU Abu Dhabi Develops Cancer-Fighting Nanospheres

The biotech breakthrough promises safer and more effective treatments using photodynamic and photothermal therapies.

Published

3 years ago

September 18, 2023

Nour Nasir

NYU Abu Dhabi

A Research team from NYU Abu Dhabi’s Magzoub lab has made considerable advances in the fight against cancer using biocompatible nanospheres that have the potential to replace traditional forms of treatment.

The experiments trialed photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), which use non-invasive light waves to destroy cancers, avoiding the well-known side effects of chemo and radiotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy works by releasing a torrent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) onto cancer cells, whereas photothermal therapy converts light into searing heat, destroying tumor tissues through hyperthermia.

The research team has detailed their findings in a paper entitled “pH-Responsive Upconversion Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres for Combined Multimodal Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Photodynamic and Photothermal Cancer Therapy”. The literature goes on to explain how the nanospheres are able to protect encapsulated photosensitizers and photothermal agents from degrading, enabling them to be delivered directly to cancer cells.

Alongside thermal and fluorescent imaging, traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used for tumor detection and monitoring. Once cancer is detected, the PDT and PTT can kill tumors without leaving toxic traces in the body.

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Loganathan Palanikumar, a senior researcher in the NYUAD Magzoub lab, explained the process, “To make PDT effective, we need enough photosensitizer in the tumor tissue, while PTT requires a substantial accumulation of photothermal agents within tumors”.

Mazin Magzoub, NYUAD associate professor of biology and Magzoub lab leader, added, “New therapeutic approaches are desperately needed to enhance the existing arsenal of cancer-fighting treatments”.

Magzoub lab’s new treatments offer real hope that cancers could soon be treated with minimal stress and danger to patients, leading to a brighter future free from one of the world’s most feared and destructive diseases.

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New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE

The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Disney

A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.

For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.

The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.

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Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.

Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.

For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.