Researchers led by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed a cutting-edge nanoinjection drug delivery platform that could significantly improve the safety and effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality among women worldwide, with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation often damaging healthy tissues due to systemic drug exposure. The newly developed platform addresses this challenge by delivering anticancer drugs directly into cancer cells, sharply reducing harm to surrounding healthy cells.
How the nanoinjection system works
The research team has combined thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes (NAs) with silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) etched onto a silicon wafer. These nanoarchaeosomes are loaded with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and injected directly into cancer cells through vertically aligned silicon nanotubes.
This dual approach creates a precise and sustained drug delivery mechanism, allowing the medicine to act where it is needed most while minimising systemic side effects. The international collaboration included researchers from Monash University and Deakin University.
Strong results in early experiments
The findings, published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, were based on experiments conducted on in vitro (cell culture) and ex ovo (chick embryo) models.
The Nanoarchaeosome–Doxorubicin–Silicon Nanotube system (NAD-SiNTs) showed strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while largely sparing healthy fibroblast cells. Researchers observed that the platform induced cell-cycle arrest and necrosis in cancer cells and significantly reduced angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels that tumours need to grow — by suppressing key pro-angiogenic factors.
Notably, the system demonstrated an inhibitory concentration (IC50) that was 23 times lower than free doxorubicin, indicating much higher potency at substantially lower doses.
Promise for affordable cancer care
Dr Swathi Sudhakar, Assistant Professor at IIT Madras, said the technology could be transformative for low- and middle-income countries like India. By enabling effective treatment with smaller drug doses, the platform has the potential to reduce treatment costs and improve patients’ quality of life.
Unlike nanoinjection systems made from carbon or titanium nanotubes, the silicon nanotube design is inherently biocompatible and non-toxic, making it more suitable for large-scale and clinical use.
The next phase of research will focus on in vivo studies, long-term toxicity assessments, and regulatory evaluations to prepare the technology for preclinical and clinical trials.