New Delhi: An international team of researchers led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed an advanced precision 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 cancer-related deaths among women globally, with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation often damaging healthy tissues due to systemic drug exposure.

The newly developed platform enables targeted intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs, minimising harm to non-cancerous cells. The system delivers doxorubicin directly into breast cancer cells using thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes (NAs) embedded within vertically aligned silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) fabricated on a silicon wafer.

According to the research team, which includes scientists from Monash University and Deakin University in Australia, the approach combines nanoarchaeosome-based drug encapsulation with silicon nanotube-based nanoinjection, creating a precise and sustained therapeutic delivery mechanism.

Promising results in preclinical models

Experiments conducted on in vitro cell culture and ex ovo chick embryo models, published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, showed that the NAD-SiNT platform (Nanoarchaeosome–Doxorubicin–Silicon Nanotubes) produced strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while largely sparing healthy fibroblast cells.

The study found that the nanoinjection system induced cell-cycle arrest and necrosis in cancer cells and significantly inhibited angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that support tumour growth, by suppressing key pro-angiogenic factors.

Notably, the platform demonstrated a 23-fold lower inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared with free doxorubicin, indicating higher drug potency at substantially lower doses. Researchers said this could lead to reduced treatment costs and fewer side effects for patients.

Potential impact on affordable cancer care

“This research could have transformative implications for healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries like India, where access to advanced cancer therapies remains limited by cost,” said Dr Swathi Sudhakar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras.

“By enabling targeted delivery of smaller doses with higher efficacy, the system can potentially lower the overall expense of cancer treatment and improve patients’ quality of life,” she said, adding that the technology could also be adapted for treating other types of cancer.

Safer, scalable nanotechnology

Unlike nanoinjection systems based on carbon or titanium nanotubes, the silicon nanotube-based design is inherently biocompatible and non-toxic, eliminating the need for additional surface modifications. This makes the platform a more reliable and scalable candidate for clinical translation, the researchers noted.

The next phase of the project will focus on in vivo studies, long-term toxicity evaluation, and regulatory assessments to prepare the technology for preclinical and clinical development.

IANS