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Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
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Multi-Responsive Upconversion Hybrid Nanobots Clad with Dopamine for Light-Driven Breast Cancer Therapy
Swapnil Srivastava1, Annu Balhara2,3, Pankaj Kharra1
1Institute of Nanoscience and Technology, Chemical Biology Unit, Knowledge City, Punjab 140306, India.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 19, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed smart nanobots powered by near-infrared (NIR) lasers for biomedical applications. These nanobots demonstrated controlled movement and significantly inhibited tumor growth in mice, offering a new noninvasive cancer therapy approach.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Photomedicine
Background:
- Stimulus-responsive nanobots offer potential for targeted therapies.
- Fuel-free, light-powered nanomachines are advancing biomedical research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel NIR laser-responsive nanobots.
- To evaluate their phototactic behavior and therapeutic efficacy in a breast cancer model.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of folic acid-functionalized, dopamine-coated, rose bengal-loaded upconvertible nanobots.
- Assessment of nanobot phototaxis under NIR laser irradiation (980 nm).
- Evaluation of tumor growth inhibition in 4T1 tumor-bearing Balb-C mice.
Main Results:
- Nanobots exhibited unidirectional phototaxis (≈27 ± 7 μm/s) with NIR laser stimulation.
- Phototaxis was modulated by pH, GSH, light intensity, and media composition.
- Significant reduction in tumor volume was observed in laser-treated mice with nanobot administration.
Conclusions:
- Developed versatile, noninvasive nanobots for site-specific, stimuli-triggered cancer therapy.
- Demonstrated precise spatiotemporal control for breast cancer treatment using nanorobotics and biophotonics.
- Opened new avenues for photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies.
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