Scientists in China have unveiled spiky nanorobots, powered by magnets that can pierce tumor cell membranes and deliver chemotherapy drugs for drug discovery and targeting, described as “microscopic scalpels,” in a new form of drug resistance in cancer treatment.
Early laboratory and animal studies show promising results, with nanorobots suppressing tumor growth and extending survival.
One of the most challenging fields in oncology is penetrating the body shields of cancer cells. Their tough membranes and natural “efflux pumps” resist or expel drugs, sabotaging chemotherapy. For researchers, this has long been a barrier to targeted drug delivery and a true cancer treatment breakthrough.
To tackle this, researchers led by Dr. Zhilu Yang of the Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Dr. Xing Ma of Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), and Dr. Ning Liu of Tongji University developed magnetic nanorobots coated with jagged gold nanospikes. This innovation highlights the application of nanotechnology in medicine and demonstrates the growing field of medical nanorobotics.
About 500 nanometers wide, 200 times thinner than a human hair, the robots are guided to tumors with an external magnetic field. By spinning in place, their spikes puncture cell membranes, creating openings that allow chemotherapy drugs to enter.
“These nanorobots essentially act as mechanical agitators,” explained Dr. Liu, “By rotating under a magnetic field, their sharp spikes disrupt the cell membrane, creating tiny openings that allow drugs to slip inside more efficiently.”
This represents one of the most promising applications of nanorobots in medical field research to date.
Laboratory and Animal Success
In experiments with human liver cancer cells, the nanorobots boosted uptake of doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug.
Fluorescence imaging revealed much higher concentrations of the medicine inside cells compared to traditional methods. The effect was the same across different types of tumors, including colon and cervical cancers, and has strong potential in neuroblastoma treatment.
“Think of it as giving the drug a shortcut,” said Dr. Ma. “Instead of relying on slow diffusion or being blocked by resistance mechanisms, the nanorobots create a mechanical pathway that drugs can use to reach the inside of the cell directly.”
Computer models confirmed these findings, portraying how rotating spikes created membrane pores and increased permeability. Beyond drug delivery, the physical disruption also damaged cancer cells directly—a process the team described as “mechano-killing.”
When tested on mice with liver tumors, chemotherapy and nanorobots shrank tumor and doubled treatment growth by 61%, leading to a 100% survival rate, with minimal side effects. This makes it a powerful step towards chemotherapy alternatives and more minimally invasive cancer treatment options.
“This dual approach—combining chemotherapy with mechanical disruption—represents a powerful new direction for cancer treatment,” said Dr. Yang.
Smarter Cancer Drug Delivery and Targeting
According to the researchers, the technology is still in its infancy despite its encouraging promise of a better future for cancer drug delivery and targeting. Further study will be required to polish the design and its structural framework, demonstrate long-term safety, and better delivery approaches prior to human trials.
Scientists are particularly focused on tuning the magnetic properties of nanoparticles to enhance precision and control to build on the growing advances in magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications, altering drugs delivery inside the body.
Challenges notwithstanding, China’s cancer drug delivery and targeting breakthrough is a transformative moment for precision oncology. By engineering nanorobots into nanoscopic scalpels, scientists have demonstrated that physical forces at the nanoscale can be harnessed alongside drugs to penetrate cancer’s toughest defenses.
This strategy could make nanorobots in cancer treatment and nano tech cancer treatment a reality, potentially reducing chemotherapy’s negative side effects and offering more personalized options for drug-resistant patients.
Ultimately, these positive results open a door to the combination of nanotechnology that was previously thought not achievable in healthcare.
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