Singapore’s Revolutionary Carbon Membrane Aims to Transform Cancer Treatment
Singapore, Wednesday, 13 August 2025.
Singapore researchers have pioneered an ultraclean carbon membrane that reduces proton scattering by 40 times compared to typical films, enhancing proton therapy’s precision in targeting tumors.
Introduction to UC-MAC Innovation
Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed an ultrathin monolayer amorphous carbon membrane, known as UC-MAC. This breakthrough material reduces proton scattering by 40 times compared to standard carbon films, making it a game-changer in precision proton therapy for cancer treatment. The innovation centers on the disorder-to-disorder (DTD) synthesis approach, enabling rapid wafer-scale production of UC-MAC films, significantly more efficient than conventional methods [1][4].
How UC-MAC Works
The UC-MAC’s distinct advantage lies in its atomically precise structure, which allows for the creation of finely tuned proton beams. By splitting H₂⁺ ions into protons, these beams exhibit minimal scattering, focused with high spatial precision—a crucial factor when targeting tumors in sensitive or critical areas. The material’s superior performance is partly due to its angstrom-sized pores, which facilitate finer control over protons and molecular hydrogen ions [1][4].
Applications Beyond Cancer Therapy
While the primary focus is on enhancing cancer therapy, UC-MAC’s potential extends into other technological domains. Its properties make it suitable for energy storage devices such as batteries and fuel cells, as well as in the realm of flexible electronics and sub-2 nm integrated circuits. This aligns with the current trend towards developing smaller and more efficient electronic components in the post-Moore’s law era [4].
Future Prospects and Global Impact
The development of UC-MAC marks a significant step towards the advancement of photonics in medical applications. By offering a scalable and cost-effective solution to produce high-precision proton treatment beams, it holds the potential to improve healthcare outcomes significantly. The research team’s ongoing work to refine this technology could set a new standard for proton therapy, making it more accessible and effective globally [1][4].