A new study explores the use of nanobots to distribute tumor-killing medications more efficiently to patients. The researchers employed tiny self-propelled machines that could penetrate deeper into bladder cancer tumors when compared to current methods. The results could have a resounding effect on treatment moving forward. Here’s everything you need to know.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the world. A recent study by the American Cancer Society projected around 82K people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023 alone. Of those diagnosed, around 16.5K will not survive the ordeal. As such, it’s easy to see why there’s considerable effort put towards helping to reduce the number of people who will be affected by bladder cancer in the coming years.
The main causes of bladder cancer are smoking, workplace exposure to carcinogens, dietary factors, genes, diesel exhaust exposure, and radiotherapy. Notably, around 75% of confirmed bladder cancer tumors are non-muscle-invasive, meaning the cancer is located only on the inner layer of cells.
Current Treatment
The current methods of treating bladder cancer are effective and not dangerous. However, they leave lots of room for improvement. The most common procedure involves administering drugs directly to the bladder. The problem with treating bladders versus other organs is that it’s designed to flush out toxins with urine constantly.
This urine, coupled with sedimentation, results in a low therapeutic efficacy. Drugs can find it hard to fully diffuse in a urine-rich environment that is constantly swapping out fluids to remain clean. Additionally, it’s difficult to get the medication in all corners of the bladder, which results in some cell layers being untreated.
These untreated cells can become future tumors and lead to the patient having to undergo multiple procedures and monitoring to ensure effectiveness for the following 5 years after treatment. Thankfully, researchers have put many years into figuring out the best way to deliver these life-giving drugs, and this latest development shows massive potential.
Nanobots Study
The study, “Urease-powered nanobots for radionuclide bladder cancer therapy,” was published in Nature Nanotechnology. In the paper, scientists discuss the use of radiolabeled mesoporous silica-based urease-powered nanobots to improve bladder cancer treatment procedures. Specifically, the engineers wanted to see how the nanoparticles penetrated the bladder walls and dispersed across the organs.
Source – Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and CIC biomaGUNE.
Nanomachines
The nanobots used in this experiment are shaped like porous spheres. They Are made of silica and are designed to self-propel when exposed to the protein urease, which is found in urine. The researchers monitored as the silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) moved about the organ, reaching the deepest corners. Specifically, the nanobots move using ammonia and CO2 created by the asymmetric decomposition of urease around the device.
Test
The testing phase involved two lab mice, vivo and ex vivo. Both mice suffered from bladder cancer tumors located deep within their organs. The researchers injected nanoparticles directly into the patients so the team could study the maneuverability of the nanoparticles and their accumulation within the organ. Notably, the mice were made to change position every 30 minutes to help facilitate equal dispersion across the organ. Here’s what was learned.
Murine Tests
Murine tests were used to study the level of penetration achieved by the nanoparticles. To accomplish this task, the team used radio-iodinated nanobots. The team relied on the commonly used Iodine-131 and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to see exactly what layers were treated.
Optical System
The engineers created a new fluorescence microscopy system developed at IRB Barcelona. This new optical testing process provides an in-depth 3d model demonstrating penetration levels across the organ. Specifically, a system that used Label-free optical contrast based on polarization-dependent scattered light-sheet microscopy of cleared bladders made the process easier. It eliminated the light usually refracted by the liver, which made it much easier to confirm the nanoparticle’s movement.
Results
The test results were eye-opening. The new process was able to achieve far better dispersion and penetration versus traditional methods. Specifically, a single dose of urea-powered, radionuclide-carrying nanorobots successfully reduced the size of tumors in the test subjects by 90%. Interestingly, the team discovered that the nanobots were able to break down the wall of the bladder and the extracellular wall of the tumor by altering Ph levels.
Benefits
There are several benefits that the new bladder cancer study makes possible. For one, it shows enhanced diffusion and mixing capabilities. As such, it makes treatments more effective. The self-propelled nanobots can enter and spread across the bladder using urine as the catalyst, creating a more efficient approach.
Pierce Tumor Wall
The new process sent nanobots colliding with the urothelium. In the past, this process reduced the effectiveness of procedures because the wall prevented a lot of the medication from entering. The new study found that greater tumor penetration was achieved as the nanobots were attracted to and easily penetrated the spongier surface of the bladder.
Single Treatment
Traditional bladder cancer treatments can require on average 6-14 hospital treatments. Many treatments can include invasive surgery, taking a toll on the patient. These visits add up to the total time spent treating this life-threatening disease. The nanoparticle treatment process promises to reduce this treatment to a single visit, freeing up much-needed time and resources for healthcare professionals and patients.
Reduced Costs
Bladder cancer is one of the most expensive diseases in the world to treat. On average, a patient can end up spending between $40k and 190K treating this disease. Of these costs, 60% goes towards recurring treatments. According to a study conducted by “Economic aspects of bladder cancer: what are the benefits and costs?”, recurring medication costs can be as high as $800 per month.
The new process reduces hospitalization and treatment times and costs significantly. Keenly, nanobots don’t require as much monitoring and follow-up because they are more effective at treating all the layers of the bladder. Eliminating these infected pockets ensures there aren’t future complications that form due to remnants of the cancer cells becoming active again.
Effectiveness
Another huge reason why this new method could be the future is that it improves efficiency considerably. Healthcare professionals can use lower doses, which means fewer side effects for patients and higher cure rates. The study proves that nanobot-delivered treatment is far more effective than passive drug administration strategies.
Researchers
Several research teams, led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and CIC Imagine, took part in this study. The head researcher on the project was Samuel Sánchez, PhD, ICREA research professor. The co-lead on the paper is Jordi Llop, PhD, a researcher at CIC biomaGUNE. Notably, there was also participation from researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
Two Companies that Could Benefit from this Study
Many contenders in the healthcare sector could implement the findings in this study to provide more effective and lower-cost treatments to patients. These companies hold pristine positions in the market and have frequently introduced new strategies and methods in the past. As such, they could easily integrate nanobots into their future offerings and reap many benefits from the addition.
1. ImmunityBio 
ImmunityBio entered the market in 2014. It was founded by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong to provide cutting-edge cancer and infectious disease care and treatments. The company managed to carve out a niche in the clinical-stage biotech market due to its pioneering efforts which include becoming one of only a handful of publicly traded companies to secure FDA approval for their new bladder cancer treatments.
The firm’s most popular offering, ANKTIVA, is now covered by the majority of insurance providers. This approval and support from the insurance sector has catapulted ImmunityBIO to the top of the industry in terms of potential growth. Notably, IBRX stock has seen some drawbacks over the last year, with the firm claiming a $1M loss last year.
This loss is seen as temporary by many traders and several analysts predict the stock to see significant gains as the company unveils new bladder treatments and medications it has been researching and developing over the last couple of years. Integrating nanotechnology into their strategies could drive revenue to new heights by reducing costs and improving effectiveness at lower doses.
2. Amgen Inc 
Amgen is another cutting-edge healthcare provider that focuses on cancer treatments. The company has several products that assist those suffering from cardiovascular conditions, oncology/hematology, inflammation, neurological disorders, bone health, and nephrology. Its broad coverage has helped the firm secure a spot as one of the most active treatment providers available.
Amgen is best known for its Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE) therapy, Blincyto. This therapy received FDA approval and is currently in use by thousands of patients treating leukemia and lymphoma. In the future, the company could leverage the nanobot delivery method to enhance its offerings and improve results further.
Notably, Amgen continues to expand its offerings and tech. The company recently opened a biomanufacturing plant and has partnered with AI specialist Nvidia to integrate the technology into its processes. Notably, AI systems have been instrumental in lowering drug discovery costs across the board and they re seen as a positive for traders.
Future of Bladder Cancer Treatment
The future looks bright for those suffering from bladder cancer. Despite the disease still claiming thousands of lives yearly, the strides made in research and development of effective treatments demonstrate a future where infected people can access treatments more easily. Additionally, these treatments will be less invasive. Here are some other cool futuristic trends that could affect bladder cancer treatments in the future.
3d Printed Organs
The 3d printing sector has made some strides in the medical market over the last 5 years. Today, there are 3d printers that are capable of printing biomaterials. The goal is to be able to fully 3d print organs shortly. These printed organs could improve the lives of millions of people who currently require treatment.
Additionally, 3d printed organs are seen by NASA and other space agencies as a critical component of deep space travel. These devices would be used as low-weight options for future space explorers who more than likely will be on a one-way trip during early journeys.
AI Oncology
Another major development in the market is the further integration of AI systems. These systems have been used in nearly every aspect of the market. There are AI systems in the world that can diagnose, treat, and prevent cancers better than older options. These procedures will only get better as the AI models improve over the coming months.
Bladder Cancer – Our Days are Numbered
It’s always impressive when you see nanobots used to better health. These tiny devices sometimes catch a bad rap as potentially unstoppable mini robots but the reality is much different. These tiny devices open the door for a more healthy and trackable lifestyle. As such, the research provided in this study could pave the way for a future with much fewer cancer fatalities.
Learn about other cool robotics projects now.