Biocompatible nanotubes promise better cancer targeting

Led by Dr Ben Newland from Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the study tested the effectiveness of nanotubes made from a non-toxic polymer called poly(ethylene glycol). Unlike existing nanotubes, these new variants are soft, flexible and biocompatible.

"With the development of a brand new type of nanotube, we are in unchartered territory,” said Dr Newland. “We are in the early stages of this research, but it's exciting to think about the potential improvements in the way that drugs are delivered."

Alongside Cardiff University, researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research in Dresden and Strathclyde University also contributed to the study. The team explored how effective the new nanotube could be in treating breast cancer, delivering the same dose of the drug Doxorubicin locally as well as via the bloodstream. It was found that the nanotube delivery method resulted in a reduction in both the rate of metastasis and the rate of tumour growth, leading the researchers to conclude that it has the potential to improve cancer therapies.