Magnetic-Powered Spora Lygodii Microrobots Loaded with Doxorubicin for Active and Targeted Therapy of Bladder Cancer

• Published in: Drug design, development and therapy development and therapy, 2024-01, Vol.18, p.5841-5851
• Main Authors: Yang, Qingxin, Yuan, Wen, Zhao, Tinghui, Jiao, Yanixao, Tang, Menghuan, Cong, Zhaoqing, Wu, Song
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - chemistry; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - pharmacology; Biocompatibility; Biological effects; Bioluminescence; Biomedical materials; Bladder; Bladder cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Chemotherapy; Chinese medicine; Cultural heritage; Cytotoxicity; Dip coatings; Doxorubicin; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Doxorubicin - chemistry; Doxorubicin - pharmacology; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Herbal medicine; Humans; Immersion coating; In vivo methods and tests; Iron oxides; Magnetic control; Magnetic Fields; Magnetic properties; Magnetite Nanoparticles - chemistry; Medical innovations; Medical research; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Microrobots; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms, Experimental - drug therapy; Neoplasms, Experimental - pathology; Particle Size; Retention; Side effects; spora lygodii; Spores; Therapy; Toxicity; Traditional Chinese medicine; traditional chinese medicine (tcm); Tumor suppression; Tumors; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - drug therapy; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 1177-8881; 1177-8881
• DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S490652

Bladder cancer has high recurrence rates despite standard treatments, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches. This study introduces magnetically powered microrobots utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Spora Lygodii (SL) encapsulated with Doxorubicin (DOX) and Fe O nanoparticles (Fe/DOX@SL) for targeted therapy. Fe O nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation and combined with SL spores and DOX through dip-coating to form Fe/DOX@SL microrobots. Their propulsion was controlled by a rotating magnetic field (RMF) for precise delivery. The microrobots' mobility and adherence were assessed in various biological media. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using an orthotopic bladder cancer model in mice treated intravesically with Fe/DOX@SL under RMF guidance, compared to controls. Fe/DOX@SL microrobots demonstrated efficient movement and stable navigation in biological environments. In vivo experiments showed superior retention in the bladder, prolonged adherence to the mucosa, and significantly enhanced tumor suppression in the RMF-guided group. Bioluminescence imaging confirmed reduced tumor growth, and histological analysis revealed substantial tumor regression compared to other treatments. This study highlights the potential of integrating TCM with advanced microrobotics. The biocompatible Fe/DOX@SL microrobots leverage SL's therapeutic properties and fuel-free magnetic control to overcome challenges in bladder cancer treatment, such as poor drug retention and off-target toxicity. This novel platform represents a promising advancement in targeted cancer therapy. The innovative fusion of TCM and microrobotics introduces a potent, targeted therapeutic strategy for bladder cancer, paving the way for broader biomedical applications.