Scientists at the Polytechnic University of Montreal, the University of Montreal and McGill University have made impressive breakthroughs in cancer research. They have developed new nanorobotic agents that can travel through the bloodstream and precisely deliver a drug to specific active cancer cells in a tumor. This method of administering medications ensures optimal tumor damage and does not endanger nearby organs and healthy tissues. As a result, the dosage of drugs that are extremely toxic to the human body is reduced.
The work of scientists appeared in the journal Nature Nanotechnology in an article titled "Magneto-aerotactic bacteria deliver drug-containing nanoliposomes to tumor hypoxic regions." The article describes the results of studies carried out on mice: nanorobots successfully delivered drugs to colorectal tumors.
“These legions of nanorobotic agents are made up of over 100 million flagellar bacteria - hence self-propelled - and loaded with drugs that travel the shortest route from the injection site to the area of the body in need of treatment,” explains Professor Sylvain Martel, director of the Polytechnique Montréal nanorobotic laboratory. supervising the work. "The force of injection of the drug is enough to deeply penetrate the tumor."
Entering a tumor, nanorobots can completely independently detect tumor areas poor in oxygen (hypoxic zones) and deliver drugs to them. The hypoxic zone is formed due to the significant oxygen consumption by rapidly proliferating tumor cells. As you know, these areas are resistant to most treatments, including radiation therapy.
But gaining access to tumors and traversing a complex physiological microenvironment is necessary, though not easy, so Professor Martel and his team turned to nanotechnology for help.
Bacteria with a compass
The bacteria used by Professor Martel's team rely on two natural systems to move. A kind of compass, created by fusing a chain of magnetic nanoparticles, allows them to move in the direction of the magnetic field, while a sensor for measuring oxygen concentration allows them to reach and stay in active regions of the tumor. Using these two systems and exposing bacteria to a magnetic field, scientists have shown that these bacteria can perfectly serve as artificial nanorobots of the future, designed for this kind of task.
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“This innovative use of nanotransporters will influence not only more sophisticated engineering concepts and original interventions, but also open the door to synthesizing new vehicles for therapeutic, imaging and diagnostic purposes,” Martel adds. "Chemotherapy, which is so toxic to the entire human body, will be able to use these natural nanobots to move drugs directly to the target area, thereby reducing harmful side effects and increasing the effectiveness of treatment."
ILYA KHEL