Northwestern Scientists Boost Chemotherapy Drug Potency by 20,000 Times Using Nanotechnology

Northwestern Scientists Boost Chemotherapy Drug Potency by 20,000 Times Using Nanotechnology
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In a major cancer research breakthrough, scientists at Northwestern University have re-engineered a common chemotherapy drug, increasing its potency by 20,000 times and enhancing its safety and precision, SciTechDaily reported.

The team, led by Professor Chad A. Mirkin, transformed the traditional chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) into a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) — a nanostructure that embeds the drug within DNA strands surrounding tiny particles. This structural redesign greatly improved the drug’s solubility and enabled it to selectively target leukemia cells while sparing healthy tissue.

In animal models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the SNA-based therapy entered cancer cells 12.5 times more efficiently and slowed tumor progression by 59-fold without noticeable side effects.

Mirkin said the approach represents a major advance in structural nanomedicine, an emerging field that tailors nanoscale drug structures for precise biological behavior.

The findings, published in ACS Nano, could pave the way for safer and more effective treatments for cancer and other diseases.