CHENNAI: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), in collaboration with Monash University and Deakin University in Australia, have developed a novel nanoinjection-based drug delivery platform that could make breast cancer treatment safer, more effective and affordable.
The breakthrough system integrates nanoarchaeosome-based drug encapsulation with silicon nanotube (SiNT)–enabled intracellular delivery, allowing anticancer drugs to be released directly inside cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue. Researchers say the approach addresses a long-standing challenge in conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which often cause severe side effects due to systemic drug exposure.
The platform delivers the widely used anticancer drug doxorubicin through thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes loaded into vertically aligned silicon nanotubes etched onto a silicon wafer. This design ensures precise targeting, sustained drug release and high biocompatibility.
Experimental studies demonstrated that the Nanoarchaeosome–Doxorubicin–Silicon Nanotube (NAD-SiNT) system produced strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while largely sparing healthy fibroblast cells. The treatment also triggered cell-cycle arrest and necrosis in cancer cells and significantly reduced angiogenesis, the process by which tumours develop new blood vessels, by suppressing key pro-angiogenic factors.
Crucially, the researchers found that the platform achieved a 23-fold lower inhibitory concentration (IC50) than free doxorubicin, indicating far higher potency at much lower doses. Scientists say this could translate into fewer side effects, reduced toxicity and lower treatment costs.
Highlighting the broader impact, Swathi Sudhakar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT-M, said, “This research could have transformative implications for healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries like India, where access to advanced cancer therapies is often limited by cost. By enabling targeted delivery of smaller doses with higher efficacy, the system has the potential to significantly reduce treatment expenses and improve patients’ quality of life.”
Another standout feature is long-term, controlled drug release lasting up to 700 hours, overcoming common limitations of existing nanocarrier systems such as burst release and poor compatibility. Unlike carbon or titanium nanotube platforms, the silicon nanotube-based design is inherently non-toxic and biocompatible.
Speaking about the roadmap ahead, Roey Elnathan of Deakin University said, “This work lays the foundation for a modular drug delivery system. The next step is in vivo validation and evaluating how the platform performs across different cancer types.”
Professor Nicolas H Voelcker of Monash University added, “We expect translation of this exciting and patented technology within the next five years.”
The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Materials Interfaces.