A team of engineers and oncologists at the University of Colorado took inspiration from the gecko’s toes to create a new drug delivery system that adheres closely to the tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The technology is described in the journal Advanced Materialsusing biodegradable particles designed to mimic the microscope of the gecko’s feet to clamp the structure, over time, chemotherapy drugs deliver chemotherapy drugs without rinsing quickly from the body.
How lizard’s toes revolutionize cancer treatment
Because of millions of tiny fibers on its toes, the gecko can stick to the wall, exploiting a weak molecular attraction called the van der Waals force. Mimicking this principle, the Cu Boulder team developed “soft dendritic particles” from FDA-approved polymers, giving them nanoscale branches similar to fibers that resemble bristle-like.
The researchers injected chemotherapy drugs into the granules and applied them to the bladder tumors in mice, and found that the material lasted in the right place for several days (although the bladder was wet and frequently flushed the environment) and caused a strong immune response without obvious toxicity.
Major findings from the study
- The particles are made of biodegradable poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan coatings.
- They adhered to mouse and human bladder cancer cells for several days.
- Gemcitabine-loaded particles induce a larger CD45+ immune cell response compared to controls.
- The system has enabled continuous drug release in preclinical trials with minimal side effects.
Potential to reduce recurrence and side effects of bladder cancer
As we all know, bladder cancer is difficult to treat due to frequent cleaning of medication in urine. Current treatment involves inserting a catheter to flood the bladder with medication, a process that must be repeated frequently and may stimulate healthy tissue. The researchers hope their sticky, drug-rich particles (extended through the gel) will stick to the tumor more selectively, resulting in fewer treatments and better results.
The team believes that the platform can be extended to other local cancers, such as tumors in the mouth, head or neck, providing flexible new approaches to targeted treatments. Further research is needed before humans can test the method.
Citation source researchers
“Nature has been around for millions of years and provides clues to developing better biomaterials,” said Wyatt Shields, senior writer and assistant professor at Cu Boulder. First author Jin Gyun Lee said the results show strong potential to reduce treatment frequency and improve patient comfort.
“Most patients with most patients are common with bladder cancer,” said Thomas Flaig, co-author and medical oncologist at Cu Anschutz. “New and effective therapies are really needed to prevent disease progression in these patients.”
Research information
The survey results are published in Advanced Materials Title “Soft-extruded dendritic particles with nanostructured tendrils that can be used for local adhesion and drug release to bladder cancer”. The researchers stress that clinical trials are still years away, but the concept could change the way some cancers are treated.
doi: 10.1002/adma.202505231
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