Summary of How Precision Magnetics Is Tackling Aggressive Brain Tumors:
Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto have developed a new approach to treating chemoresistant glioblastoma (GBM) using precision magnetic control called mechanical nanosurgery. The technique uses magnetic carbon nanotubes coated in an antibody that recognizes a specific protein associated with GBM tumor cells to seek and destroy cancer cells from within. The process reduced GBM tumor size, including TMZ-resistant GBM, showcasing potential uses for other cancer types if antibody coatings were changed. Multiple foundations and research organizations in Canada supported the research.
*****
Mechanical Nanosurgery Targets Chemoresistant Cancer Cells
Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Toronto (U of T) have developed a new approach to treat aggressive, chemoresistant tumor cells called mechanical nanosurgery. Using magnetic carbon nanotubes, the technique seeks out and destroys glioblastoma (GBM) cells deep inside the tumor. While GBM is the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer, the approach has potential applications in treating other cancer types by changing the antibody coating.
The Current Standard of Care for GBM Patients
GBM patients typically receive chemotherapy using temozolomide (TMZ) as part of the standard-of-care treatment. Although TMZ helps extend a patient’s life expectancy by approximately two months, GBM cells can develop resistance to the drug over time, reducing its efficacy and increasing the likelihood of tumor relapse.
How Mechanical Nanosurgery Works
Magnetic carbon nanotubes (mCNTs) are tiny cylinders made of carbon, filled with iron, and activated by an external magnetic field. Researchers coated the mCNTs in an antibody that recognizes a specific protein associated with GBM tumor cells. Once injected, antibodies on the mCNTs cause them to seek out and be absorbed by GBM tumor cells.
“Once the nanotubes are inside the tumor cell, we use a rotating magnetic field to mobilize the nanotubes to provide mechanical stimulation mechanically,” says Dr. Yu Sun, professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Robotics Institute at U of T. “The force exerted by the nanotubes damages cellular structures and causes tumor cell death.”
Applications Beyond Brain Cancer
Dr. Xi Huang, a senior scientist in the Developmental & Stem Cell Biology program at SickKids, says the research continues exploring the potential of mechanical nanosurgery. They note that changing the antibody coating and redirecting nanotubes to the desired tumor site could provide a means to destroy tumor cells in other cancer types precisely.
Funding and Partnerships
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Concern Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, and many other organizations funded the research. Dr. Xian Wang, current Assistant Professor at Queen’s University, was the publication’s first author and a former Huang Lab postdoctoral fellow.
Conclusion
Mechanical nanosurgery, a new approach developed by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, uses magnetic carbon nanotubes to target and destroy chemoresistant glioblastoma cells. Using this technique, potential applications beyond brain cancer treatment demonstrate that nanomedicine will bring cutting-edge technology and innovation to cancer treatment practices.
Comments are closed