IIT Madras & Australian Universities develop precision nanoinjection platform to transform breast cancer treatment

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in collaboration with Monash University and Deakin University in Australia, have developed a precision nanoinjection platform that could transform breast cancer treatment.

All about the precision nanoinjection to treat breast cancer

The innovation promises more effective therapy with fewer side effects, a significant challenge in oncology. At the heart of this breakthrough is a new drug delivery system that combines silicon nanotubes with thermally stable nanoarchaeosomes—robust lipid-based vesicles derived from archaeal membranes.

Together, these components form a highly precise nanoinjection platform capable of delivering chemotherapy drugs directly into cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

The team demonstrated the platform using doxorubicin, a commonly prescribed but highly toxic chemotherapy drug.

Instead of circulating broadly through the body, as in conventional chemotherapy, the nanoinjection system delivers the drug straight into breast cancer cells.

This targeted approach significantly reduces collateral damage to healthy cells, one of the primary causes of debilitating side effects in cancer patients.

Laboratory studies revealed striking results. The system showed strong cancer cell destruction, effectively suppressed angiogenesis, or the growth of blood vessels that tumours rely on for survival, and achieved an impressive 23-fold increase in potency compared to traditional drug delivery methods.

Crucially, these effects were observed at much lower drug doses, indicating the platform’s efficiency and safety advantages.

Another standout feature is sustained drug release. The silicon-based nanostructure allowed controlled release of doxorubicin for up to 700 hours, ensuring prolonged therapeutic action.

Equally important, the platform demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, overcoming key limitations associated with existing nanocarriers that often struggle with stability, toxicity, or short-lived effectiveness.

The research, published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, shows the potential of this technology as an affordable and scalable solution, particularly relevant for low- and middle-income countries where access to advanced cancer therapies remains limited.

The platform has already been successfully validated in cell culture studies and chick embryo models, with in vivo animal studies planned as the next step.

Described as a significant milestone in precision nanomedicine, this innovation brings the global medical community closer to smarter, safer, and more accessible cancer care.

If future studies confirm its promise, the technology could help reshape chemotherapy from a blunt instrument into a finely tuned, patient-friendly treatment option.

Researchers from @iitmadras, in collaboration with Monash University and @Deakin University, Australia, have developed a breakthrough precision nanoinjection platform that could transform breast cancer treatment.

The innovative system combines silicon nanotubes with thermally… pic.twitter.com/NYfnjk4ifX

— IIT Madras (@iitmadras) December 22, 2025

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