IIT Madras, Australian researchers develop precision nanoinjection platform for breast cancer treatment

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Monash University, and Deakin University, Australia, have developed a precision nanoinjection drug delivery platform aimed at improving the safety and effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.

The system combines nanoarchaeosome-based drug encapsulation with silicon nanotube (SiNT)-based intracellular delivery to minimise damage to healthy cells.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality among women globally, with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy often affecting non-cancerous tissues due to systemic drug exposure.

To address this challenge, the research team designed a nanoinjection system that delivers the anticancer drug doxorubicin directly into cancer cells using thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes loaded into vertically aligned silicon nanotubes.

Experimental results showed that the Nanoarchaeosome-Doxorubicin–Silicon Nanotube (NAD-SiNT) platform induced strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells while sparing healthy fibroblasts.

The system demonstrated significantly higher potency, with a 23-fold lower inhibitory concentration compared to free doxorubicin, alongside reduced angiogenesis and sustained drug release for up to 700 hours.

Research findings, collaboration, and next steps

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal “Advanced Materials Interfaces”, co-authored by Kaviya Vijayalakshmi Babunagappan, Subastri Ariraman, Jann Harberts, Vimalraj Selvaraj, Mukilarasi Bedatham, Narendran Sekar, Nicolas H Voelcker, Roey Elnathan and Swathi Sudhakar, highlighted the platform’s potential for precision nanomedicine applications.

The researchers noted that the silicon nanotube-based design offers inherent biocompatibility and scalability, making it a promising candidate for future clinical translation. The next phase of research will focus on in vivo validation, long-term toxicity studies, and regulatory assessments to support preclinical and clinical development.

Highlighting the significance of this research, Swathi Sudhakar, assistant professor and faculty advisor for clinical engineering, department of applied mechanics and biomedical engineering, IIT Madras, said: “This research could have transformative implications for healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries like India, where access to advanced cancer therapies remains limited by cost.”

The targeted approach could reduce the overall expense of cancer treatment and improve patients’ quality of life, while offering scope for adoption across other forms of cancer, Sudhakar said.

The research was supported by the IIT Madras–Deakin joint research initiative, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Australian Research Council (ARC).

Speaking about the next steps, Roey Elnathan, faculty of health, school of medicine, Deakin University, Australia, 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, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Australia, said the patented drug delivery technology is expected to be translated for real-world application over the next five years.