To mark International Breast Cancer Day, which is observed every 19 October to raise awareness of early detection and support research into this disease, the “Asymmetric Synthesis and Functional Nanosystems” Research Group, led by Dr Noureddine Khiar at the Institute of Chemical Research (IIQ) —a joint centre of the CSIC and the University of Seville— presents a promising breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer. The team has developed supramolecular micelles, nanoparticles designed to transport drugs and imaging agents directly to the tumour, with the aim of improving the efficacy of treatments and reducing side effects. The research article, published in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, forms part of a multidisciplinary project focused on cancer theranostics using organic, inorganic and mixed nanomaterials.
This milestone highlights the importance of scientific work and the researchers’ commitment to developing new therapeutic strategies that help improve the lives of those affected by this disease.
A global challenge: triple-negative breast cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat forms of the disease, due to the lack of specific molecular targets. The micelles developed by the team are extremely small — around 10,000 times thinner than a human hair — and have proven to be stable, easy to produce and capable of transporting therapeutic and diagnostic compounds.
Although the study reveals that fructose does not enhance active targeting towards tumour cells, both formulations possess key properties that make them a general technological platform for the theranostics of various solid cancers. Indeed, in previous research on prostate cancer, the same group demonstrated very promising results.
A message of hope
This breakthrough represents a significant step towards the development of more selective and less aggressive therapies, with the aim of improving the quality of life for thousands of patients. “Our goal is for these nanoplatforms to become versatile tools for diagnosing and treating different types of cancer, bringing personalised medicine closer to clinical practice,” highlights Dr Noureddine Khiar.
Reference
Carmen Castillejos, Alessio Zuliani, Livia Lopez Noriega, Valentine Comaills, Benoit R. Gauthier, Noureddine Khiar. Assessing small-sized D-fructose-functionalised micelles for active targeting of triple-negative breast cancer, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.107281
