Chonnam National University Develops Innovative Nanocarrier for Revolutionary Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Multifunctional Innovative Nano Delivery System for Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Provided by Chonnam National University

Chonnam National University announced on March 11 that a research team led by Professor Park Inkyu from the College of Medicine has successfully developed a multifunctional innovative nanocarrier (CuP-HAM) capable of revolutionarily treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is considered a refractory cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer is notoriously difficult to treat with targeted therapies, as its thick extracellular matrix (ECM) acts as a "physical barrier" that prevents drugs and immune cells from reaching the tumor. The research team creatively designed a "core-shell copper nanoplatform" by integrating nanotechnology and tumor immunology to overcome this robust barrier.

This nanoplatform delivers an unprecedented multi-modal attack after penetrating cancer cells. When exposed to light, the hollow copper sulfide generates heat to burn the cancer cells (photothermal therapy), while simultaneously, the encapsulated drug (4-MU) is released, instantly dissolving the protective barrier surrounding the tumor. In addition, copper ions dramatically increase reactive oxygen species, driving the cancer cells into a lethal collapse state known as cuproptosis.

What is groundbreaking about this process is that the dying cancer cells trigger a powerful immune awakening. Previously suppressed immune cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) are reactivated, and a large influx of potent cytotoxic T cells migrates into the tumor, enabling the immune system to attack the cancer cells directly.

In animal model experiments, mice treated with this platform exhibited complete tumor regression with no trace left, and the treatment demonstrated outstanding anti-cancer efficacy by blocking fatal lung metastasis 100%. No systemic toxicity or other side effects were observed during the extended treatment period.

Professor Park Inkyu, who led the research, stated, "This is a highly creative approach that combines photothermal therapy using light, biochemical matrix destruction, and copper-based reactive oxygen species amplification into a single platform. This technology, which reawakens a suppressed immune system, is expected to be an excellent alternative for the treatment of various refractory solid tumors in the future."

This research was published online in the journal Materials Today Bio under the title "Cuproptosis-Inducing Photothermal Nanotherapy Coupled with ECM Destabilization Drives Potent Tumor Regression and Immune Reawakening." It was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Next-Generation Promising Seed Technology Commercialization Fast Track Project, and the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Basic Research Program.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.