CANCER BREAKTHROUGH: Programmable Self-Regulated Nano Transporters

Cancer might be a disease from the past couple of centuries, but only the technology to cure it has only been starting to develop these days. With such innovations, many cancers are highly probable of being cured, if diagnosed early, meaning higher chances for cancer patients to live longer. 

The cancer epidemic is one of the crucial global health issues, at present, accounting for around 10 million deaths every year. In 2022, studies estimated about 1.9 million incidents and 609,360 deaths will be reported from malignancy in the United States, alone [1].

Luckily, preventative measures are accessible. Around 30-50% of all cancer cases are currently preventable through a series of procedures to avoid or reduce exposure to risk factors, such as smoking cessation programs for smokers [2].

The number of cancer patients who survived through traditional clinical therapies was just about 25%, which has now improved to nearly 50% [3]. As a result, targeted therapy is now a current and promising cancer treatment offering up to 80% effectiveness in some cases, with an estimation of 30% to 50% chance of survival [4].

Unfortunately, the effects of cancer therapy can be harmful to an individual's physical health. Over 86% of patients have reported mild side effects during cancer treatments, with around 27% experiencing severe adverse effects, including fatigue or dyspnea [5]. These, along with the high expenses of effective cancer therapeutics resulted in patients being turned off from getting the treatment they need.

A latest breakthrough in Programmable self-regulated molecular buffers with the aid of DNA-based nanotransporter offers a solution to this issue and could revolutionize the way we encounter cancer [6].

As the name suggests, a group of DNA-based molecules transport drugs through cell membranes 20,000 times more efficiently than typical human protein translators. This new class could ease in designing treatments for certain types of cancers due to its small size and ability to transport therapeutic compounds directly to the target cells.

By early November, the researchers from the University of Montreal published findings in their latest study in Nature Communications, elaborating on how they were able to devise a method to transport therapeutic molecules, using nanoparticles. The new intramolecular DNA-based transporters can be easily chemically programmed to deliver an optimal concentration of drugs, making it more efficient as well as effective than current methods.

Optimum treatment not only successfully treats the disease but also minimizes side effects. Overexposure could lead to increased side effects, while suboptimal doses have been observed in many cases as being ineffective or treatment failures.

The major challenge in modern medicine is the rapid degradation of most drugs which must be administered multiple times at regular intervals. Patients forget to properly follow their medication courses, leading to lower-than-optimal doses of the drug in their bloodstream.

Clinical trials report that less than 50% of cancer patients receive optimal drug dosage during certain chemotherapy, which led scientists to explore how the biological systems of cancer patients regulate and maintain biomolecule concentrations.

As observed, organisms utilize protein transporters with a precision balance system to maintain the concentrations of key molecules, such as thyroid hormones. These proteins interact and exert control over these measured amounts through the binding on either side; determining free concentration levels for any given molecule type.

The research team was able to mimic nature by creating artificial drug transporters that maintain a precise concentration of medications throughout treatment. The use of artificial transporters to deliver and maintain a specific concentration drug can be an innovative way to treat patients with chronic diseases like diabetes or cancer who are receiving multiple medications.

These nano transporters have additional benefits, including being programmed to prolong the drug effect and act as reservoirs, meaning, patients will require one dose rather than multiple ones in an ideal situation.

Researchers tested on live mice to demonstrate the influence of specific drug-transporter formulations to maintain the therapeutic doxorubicin in the blood and reduce its diffusion toward key organs such as the heart, lungs, or pancreas. The formulation maintained doxorubicin levels in mice 18 times longer and reduced cardiotoxicity, as well. As per observed normal weight gain, these treatments enhanced their health more than usual.

In conclusion, Programmable Self-Regulated Nano Transporters can offer a promising future for cancer therapeutics, and it’s hoped that the recent research could lead to effective treatments in the upcoming future.

Author Bio

Sumeeda Shaukat, an undergraduate student of Biotechnology. Currently, enrolled at Jinnah University for Women for courses, daytime and by night, she works as a part-time content writer at two digital marketing agencies, AMZ Onestep and Out Origin. She is the eldest of four siblings, has a tabby cat, and an affinity for writing. In the past year alone, she has written over 600+ blogs.

By: Sumeeda Shaukat Mir

References

1. Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., Fuchs, H. E., & Jemal, A. (2021). Cancer statistics, 2021. Ca Cancer J Clin, 71(1), 7-33.  https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21708.
2. Cancer (2022) World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer.
3. Pitakkitnukun, P. (2018) Targeted therapy: Stopping cancer in its tracks, Samitivej Hospitals. Available at: https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/article/detail/stopping-cancer-targeted-therapy.
4. Djulbegovic, B., Kumar, A., Soares, H. P., Hozo, I., Bepler, G., Clarke, M., & Bennett, C. L. (2008). Treatment success in cancer: new cancer treatment successes identified in phase 3 randomized controlled trials conducted by the National Cancer Institute-sponsored cooperative oncology groups, 1955 to 2006. Archives of internal medicine, 168(6), 632–642. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.168.6.632.
5. Pearce, A., Haas, M., Viney, R., Pearson, S. A., Haywood, P., Brown, C., & Ward, R. (2017). Incidence and severity of self-reported chemotherapy side effects in routine care: A prospective cohort study. PloS one, 12(10), e0184360. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184360.
6. Desrosiers, A., Derbali, R.M., Hassine, S. et al. (2022). Programmable self-regulated molecular buffers for precise sustained drug delivery. Nat Commun 13, 6504. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33491.