Breast cancer drug delivery gets more precise with nano-injection platform by IIT Madras
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An international research team led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a novel nanoinjection drug delivery platform that could make breast cancer treatment safer, more effective, and more affordable.
Breast cancer is among the leading causes of death in women globally, and conventional treatments such as chemotherapy often damage healthy tissues due to systemic drug exposure. The new platform addresses this limitation by delivering the anticancer drug doxorubicin directly into cancer cells with high precision.
The system uses thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes (NAs) loaded with doxorubicin, embedded into vertically aligned silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) etched onto a silicon wafer. This combination enables sustained and targeted intracellular drug delivery while minimising harm to surrounding healthy cells.
The technology, developed in collaboration with researchers from Monash University and Deakin University in Australia, was tested on in vitro (cell culture) and ex ovo (chick embryo) models.
Results published in Advanced Materials Interfaces showed strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while healthy fibroblast cells were largely unaffected.
The NAD-SiNT platform induced cell-cycle arrest and necrosis in cancer cells and significantly reduced angiogenesis by suppressing pro-tumour blood vessel formation. Notably, the system demonstrated a 23-fold lower inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared to free doxorubicin, indicating higher potency at much lower doses.
According to Dr. Swathi Sudhakar of IIT Madras, the platform could be especially impactful in low- and middle-income countries by reducing treatment costs and side effects. Unlike carbon or titanium nanotube systems, silicon nanotubes are inherently biocompatible and non-toxic, improving scalability and clinical potential.
The next phase will focus on in vivo studies, long-term toxicity analysis, and regulatory readiness for clinical translation.