Light-Activated Nanorobots Enable Targeted Phototherapy for Breast Cancer
核心洞察
Scientists at INST Mohali and BARC Mumbai developed NIR-responsive upconversion nanoparticle nanobots that combine phototaxis-driven movement with photothermal and photodynamic therapy for breast cancer (搜索).
The nanobots use folic acid surface functionalization to selectively target breast cancer (搜索) cells overexpressing folate receptors, enhancing tumor-specific therapeutic efficacy.
A 980 nm NIR laser triggers directional movement toward the light source while simultaneously generating localized heating and reactive oxygen species to destroy cancer cells.
Researchers from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali (搜索), in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai (搜索), have developed an advanced light-driven multifunctional nanobot platform capable of actively navigating toward tumors and delivering targeted phototherapy for breast cancer (搜索). The work, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, represents a significant step toward precision oncological interventions that minimize systemic toxicity while maximizing localized therapeutic action.
Breast cancer (搜索) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy often causes severe side effects, drug resistance, and damage to healthy tissues due to non-specific drug distribution, poor tumor penetration, and lack of active control after administration. Current nanomedicines primarily rely on passive tumor accumulation, resulting in limited tissue penetration and poor spatial control, while most light-powered micro/nanorobots require ultraviolet or visible light with restricted tissue penetration and potential damage to healthy tissues.
Engineering NIR-Responsive Nanobots with Active Locomotion
Under the leadership of Dr. Jiban Jyoti Panda at INST Mohali, in collaboration with Dr. Santosh K. Gupta at BARC Mumbai, first author Swapnil Srivastava together with Annu Balhara, Pankaj Kharra, and Jyoti Yadav developed upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based nanobots (搜索) capable of efficiently converting near-infrared (NIR) light into heat and exhibiting directional movement in the presence of NIR.
The team functionalized the nanobots with a photosensitizer, enabling the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon NIR irradiation. The nanobots also exhibited light-guided directional movement, or phototaxis, upon NIR irradiation, facilitating localized therapeutic action. Furthermore, surface functionalization with folic acid enabled selective recognition and targeting of breast cancer (搜索) cells overexpressing folate receptors, thereby enhancing tumor-specific phototherapeutic efficacy.
Mechanism of Action: Dual-Mode Cancer Cell Destruction
When exposed to a 980 nm NIR laser, polydopamine (搜索) within the nanobots generates localized heating, creating a temperature gradient. This temperature gradient induces thermally driven motion, causing the nanobots to actively move toward the laser source through phototaxis. Simultaneously, photothermal heating and photodynamic ROS generation destroy cancer cells. The combined effects produce enhanced tumor inhibition compared to individual treatment modalities.
The fuel-free, NIR-responsive nanobot integrates active light-guided movement under biologically compatible NIR irradiation, with targeted delivery through folic acid-mediated cancer cell recognition regulated by laser intensity, pH, and glutathione concentration in biological media.
Preclinical Validation and Future Implications
The team has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in both cellular models and breast tumor-bearing mice. This unique combination would allow precise, externally controlled, and minimally invasive treatment of breast tumors through localized therapeutic action.
Stimulus-responsive nanorobots, controlled by external cues such as NIR light or magnetic fields, or internal cues such as pH or enzymes, offer precise, targeted therapy with minimal systemic toxicity, making them a promising future platform for precision medicine. The INST-BARC collaboration highlights the pioneering contribution of Swapnil Srivastava and the scientific leadership of Dr. Jiban Jyoti Panda and Dr. Santosh K. Gupta in advancing UCNP-based nanobot-mediated cancer phototherapy.