LEDs can destroy skin cancer cells by bathing cream-applied skin with red light, according to a recent article in the British national newspaper the Daily Mail.

A plastic strip embedded with LEDs from Polymertronics can patch up wounds and destroy skin cancer cells by zapping them with light, said the report.

The LEDs match the absorbance spectra of aminolaevulinic acid (ALA), which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating skin carcinomas. So an ALA-based cream applied to the skin enables photodynamic therapy when the LED-encrusted patch bathes the area in red light, according to Stephen Clemmet, managing director of Polymertronics.

The LED bandage connects to a power pack worn on a patient's waist or tucked into a pocket. Comparing with current skin-cancer treatments which are big, expensive and require long stretches of inactivity, Polymertronics LED bandage is faster-acting and allows patients to follow their normal routine.

There are two prototype versions of the same bandage, one based on LEDs and one OLEDs, each with specific advantages, said Clemmet.

"We have tested both our LED solution and organic LED solutions in a controlled laboratory experiment," said Clemmet, "The LED killed 100% of head and neck cancer cells in less than half an hour, whilst our organic LED solution did the job in 2.5 hours. For a wearable product this is very acceptable."

The LED-based version of the bandage will be marketed before the OLED one, with LED technology more established and having been approved by the FDA for medical use, he explained. The company will begin clinical trials of the LED bandage in the next few months and expects to receive approval in early to mid 2011. And it will continue to develop its OLED technology.