3D-printed 'spanlastics' could change how cancer drugs reach tumors
Why it matters: This method could lead to more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects for patients, especially in early diagnoses.
- University of Mississippi researchers, including Mo Maniruzzaman and Jaidev Chakka, introduced a new FRESH 3D printing concept using 'spanlastics' as nano-drug delivery vehicles for anticancer drugs.
- Spanlastics, microscopic capsules 200-300 nanometers in length, are designed to be implanted directly at tumor sites, delivering high dosages of medication directly to affected cells while protecting the drug from degradation.
- This targeted delivery method aims to significantly reduce the severe side effects of traditional chemotherapy, such as hair loss and nausea, by concentrating the drug at the tumor instead of dispersing it throughout the body.
- The technology shows particular promise for early cancer diagnoses, before the disease has a chance to metastasize, by enabling direct and potent intervention at the primary tumor site.
University of Mississippi researchers have developed 3D-printed 'spanlastics,' tiny drug carriers that can be implanted directly into tumors to deliver cancer-fighting medication, potentially revolutionizing treatment by minimizing severe side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. This innovative FRESH 3D printing concept, tested successfully on breast cancer cells, allows for concentrated drug delivery to tumor sites, protecting the drug from degradation and enhancing its penetration into cancer cells.
