Cancer requires precise drug delivery for effective treatment. Targeted drug delivery, achieved by concentrating medications at the tumor site, can enhance treatment efficiency while minimizing side effects. Biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with drugs offer an effective method for localized treatment. These nanoparticles are typically guided by surface molecules that bind to specific proteins near tumors. However, the dynamic nature of tumors limits the efficacy of this molecular targeting.
In the MTrix project, we propose an innovative approach. By harnessing mechanical interactions between drug carriers and cells, we can enhance drug targeting without relying on surface-affinity molecules. Many cancers have deformable cells, which forms the basis of our hypothesis. We suggest designing drug vehicles that exclusively interact with these deformable malignant cells, requiring shape changes for internalization. Our "Mechanical Targeting" method has been validated through a novel physical model, demonstrating how cell deformability governs drug carrier absorption.
Our theoretical model's experimental validation shows how particle characteristics and cell deformability affect particle uptake by cancer cells. We've introduced the groundbreaking "Triangular Correlation," linking cancer malignancy, cell deformability, and phagocytosis (Sci Adv. 2019). This correlation offers a tool for designing drug delivery systems, potentially enabling personalized nanomedicine. This approach could use tests on a patient's cells to tailor treatment strategies. MTrix improves specific and selective drug delivery, reducing chemotherapy toxicity, enhancing effectiveness, and impacting oncology healthcare burden.
