Russian scientists have created a material that delivers drugs directly to the tumor and controls their action. This means less harm to healthy tissues and a longer therapeutic effect. The discovery was made by scientists from the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU).
According to Oleg Shichalin, a researcher at FEFU's Nuclear Technologies Laboratory, the material acts as a "smart" drug carrier. Magnetic nanoparticles allow tracking its distribution in the body and controlling the drug's release rate.
Using a magnetic field, the drug's action can be enhanced or nanoparticles can be heated to increase the therapeutic effect. At the same time, the porous structure of calcium silicate retains the drug and gradually releases it, maintaining the desired concentration for a long time.
FEFU scientists also managed to control pore size and surface area by changing the processing temperature. The best samples, obtained at 150 degrees Celsius, showed the maximum ability to "load" the drug – up to 10 mg per 0.1 g of carrier.
Experiments in an artificial environment showed that the drug is released in three stages over seven days. First, there is a rapid release, which provides a high dose in the tumor area, followed by a slower release that maintains the effect.
This allowed reducing the total drug dose while maintaining treatment effectiveness. The material developed in Primorsky Krai is biocompatible and safe for humans.
The next stage is preclinical trials, according to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. In the future, this technology could lead to the creation of a new generation of chemotherapy drug forms.
