BLADDER cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, in part due to limitations in current treatment approaches. Intravesical drug delivery, the direct administration of drugs into the bladder, often suffers from poor drug retention, reducing therapeutic effectiveness. A new study offers an innovative solution inspired by nature: soft dendritic particles (SDPs) that mimic the adhesive properties of gecko feet.
Researchers developed a fluid flow templating method to create SDPs from biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), coated with chitosan to enhance adherence to bladder tissue. This unique structure allows the particles to stick more effectively to the bladder lining via van der Waals interactions, enabling drugs to remain in place longer. The SDPs were delivered through an alginate hydrogel, allowing precise, sustained drug release.
The study showed that SDPs successfully adhered to both human and mouse cancer cells for several days. When loaded with commonly used chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine, docetaxel, and methotrexate, the SDPs significantly improved cancer cell killing in lab experiments. In mouse models, gemcitabine-loaded SDPs not only reduced tumour growth but also triggered a strong immune response, all while showing minimal toxicity.
This simple yet effective biomimetic drug delivery platform could mark a turning point in the treatment of bladder and other epithelial cancers. By combining longer drug retention with controlled release, SDPs could significantly boost treatment outcomes without the need for complex manufacturing methods. The findings pave the way for more effective, low-toxicity bladder cancer therapies and highlight the growing potential of nature-inspired nanomedicine.
Reference
Lee JG et al. Soft extrudable dendritic particles with nanostructured tendrils for local adhesion and drug release to bladder cancers. Adv Mater. 2025;DOI:10.1002/adma.202505231.
