Nanorobots Powered by Urea Effectively Decrease Tumor Volume in Bladder Cancer by 90%

A revolutionary treatment for bladder cancer was recently discovered. Researchers found a novel way to shrink bladder tumors using nanobots.

Nanorobots to Shrink Bladder Tumor by 90%

Researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the CIC biomaGUNE, in collaboration with IRB Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), found a potential solution for bladder cancer after they managed to reduce the size of bladder tumors in mice by 90% with the use of self-propelled nanorobots.

In the new study, they created little nanomachines that target the tumor precisely and attack it with a radioisotope on their surface. These machines are driven by the urea found in urine.

The nanomachines consist of a porous silica sphere with several components attached to its surface, each serving a distinct purpose. One of them is the urease enzyme, which is a protein that combines with urine's urea to provide the nanoparticle the ability to propulsion. Radioactive iodine, a radioisotope frequently employed for the localized therapy of tumors, is another essential element.

This research opens the door for bladder cancer therapies that shorten hospital stays, which means reduced expenses and more patient comfort.

"With a single dose, we observed a 90% decrease in tumor volume. This is significantly more efficient than current treatments, given that patients with this type of tumor typically have between 6 and 14 hospital appointments. This therapeutic approach would increase efficiency by reducing the length of hospitalizations and the cost of the treatment," said Samuel Sánchez, lead author of the study and an ICREA research professor at IBEC.

Bladder cancer is among the most expensive cancers to treat since patients need constant monitoring, multiple hospital visits, and repeated therapies. While there is minimal therapeutic efficacy, current treatments that include injecting medications directly into the bladder have shown reasonable survival rates. A possible substitute is using nanoparticles to deliver the therapeutic substance directly to the tumor. Particularly noteworthy are nanorobots, nanoparticles that can propel themselves inside the body, used in the latest study.

What is Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer happens when bladder cells begin to proliferate uncontrollably. Urine is stored in the bladder, a hollow, balloon-shaped structure in the lower abdomen.

The bladder's muscular wall enables it to expand to hold pee produced by the kidneys and contract to expel pee from the body. Above the waist are two kidneys: one on each side of the backbone. Urine is how your kidneys and bladder collaborate to flush waste products and poisons from your body.

There are at least four types of bladder cancer - urothelial, squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma of the bladder. The type depends on where the cancer starts.

Urothelial carcinoma

It starts in the urothelial cells, which line the urethra, bladder, ureters, renal pelvis, and certain other organs. Urothelial carcinomas account for the majority of bladder malignancies. Since they undergo form changes, urothelial cells are often called transitional cells. When the bladder is filled with pee, these cells can expand; when it is empty, they can contract.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in squamous cells, which are flat, thin cells that line the bladder's interior. Long-term irritation or infection with the tropical parasite schistosomiasis, common in Africa and the Middle East but uncommon in the United States, can lead to this type of cancer. The transitional cells lining the bladder may eventually transform into squamous cells when prolonged irritation occurs.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in glandular cells located in the bladder's lining. The bladder's glandular cells produce mucus and other materials.

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder

This is classified as neuroendocrine cancer because it starts in these cells, which resemble nerves, and releases hormones into the blood in response to signals from the neurological system.

Bladder cancer is one of the tumors with the highest incidence rates worldwide and the fourth most common in men. It rarely causes death, but nearly half of the cases return within five years.

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