New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) A global team of scientists spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has unveiled an advanced nanoinjection drug delivery system that holds the promise of rendering breast cancer therapies safer and more effective.

Breast cancer continues to be a major cause of death among women worldwide.

Traditional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, frequently damage healthy tissues due to systemic drug exposure.

The innovative nanoinjection mechanism administers the anticancer agent doxorubicin directly into cancer cells through thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes (NAs) encapsulated within vertically aligned silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) etched onto a silicon wafer.

This method establishes an accurate and sustained therapeutic system that minimizes harm to healthy cells by integrating nanoarchaeosome-based drug encapsulation with SiNT-based intracellular delivery, as reported by the research team, which includes members from Monash University and Deakin University in Australia.

Studies conducted on in vitro (cell culture) and ex ovo (chick embryo) models, featured in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, showed that the NAD-SiNTs (Nanoarchaeosome-Doxorubicin-Silicon nanotubes) exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells while preserving healthy fibroblasts.

The NAD-SiNTs caused cell-cycle arrest and necrosis in cancer cells and notably curtailed angiogenesis, the process by which tumors form new blood vessels, by downregulating crucial pro-angiogenic factors.

The platform exhibited an IC50 (inhibitory concentration) that is 23 times lower than that of free doxorubicin, indicating greater efficacy at significantly reduced doses, which can lead to lower treatment costs and fewer side effects.

“This research could revolutionize healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries like India, where the high cost of advanced cancer therapies limits accessibility. By facilitating targeted delivery of smaller doses with enhanced effectiveness, the system can potentially reduce the overall expenses associated with cancer treatment while improving patient quality of life,” stated Dr. Swathi Sudhakar, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, IIT Madras.

“The platform also aligns with national aspirations for affordable healthcare innovation and may eventually be adapted for treating other cancer types,” she further explained.

In contrast to other nanoinjection systems constructed from carbon or titanium nanotubes, the silicon nanotube-based design is naturally biocompatible and non-toxic, eliminating the need for extra surface modifications. This positions it as a more dependable and scalable candidate for future clinical applications.

The subsequent phase of research will concentrate on in vivo validation, long-term toxicity evaluations, and regulatory assessments to prepare for preclinical and clinical trials.