Microscopic Algae Cells Enable New Biobot for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Biotechnology experts from China and the United Kingdom have created an innovative method that utilizes the porous cells of certain microalgae species to fabricate microscopic robots. These tiny robots are capable of delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors under the influence of external magnetic fields, thereby reducing the treatment burden on patients’ bodies, according to a press release from the University of Edinburgh.

Researcher Zhu Chi from the British university explained, "Our microscopic robots are based on disc-shaped microalgae of the species Coscinodiscus granii. We can track their movement inside the human body in real time, allowing us to guide them toward the tumor and release the drug upon reaching the targeted tissue."

The research team developed an approach aimed at improving the effectiveness and safety of bladder cancer treatment through microscopic robots that can deliver medication directly inside tumors. These robots rely on algal cells loaded with magnetic nanoparticles made of magnetite, as well as the anti-tumor drug doxorubicin.

Additionally, the microscopic structures are coated with a biodegradable polymer shell that seals the pores in the algae’s silicon-based structure, protecting the contents until the robots reach the tumor. This design enables control over their movement and tracking of their location within the body using external magnetic fields and ultrasound waves.

To automate this process, Zhu Chi and his team developed a neural network capable of tracking the precise location of the microscopic particles within the organ and controlling their trajectory, ensuring the highest concentration of the drug reaches the tumor. This system was tested in laboratory experiments on mice implanted with a human bladder cancer model.

Results showed that the treatment procedure lasted about 30 minutes, with drug concentration inside the tumor increasing up to tenfold compared to conventional methods. This led to an almost complete reduction in tumor size within one week, demonstrating promising potential for using these biobots in treating various tumor types.

Regarding bladder cancer treatment, the effectiveness of many malignant tumor therapies is currently limited by the difficulty drugs face in penetrating tumor masses. This often forces researchers to increase drug dosages to life-threatening levels or seek alternative delivery methods. Bladder cancer exemplifies this challenge, as combating it requires administering large drug doses to patient organs, complicating treatment and causing severe side effects.