Sea Urchin Skeleton Enables Targeted Antitumor Drug Delivery

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Researchers from the Far Eastern Federal University and the Pacific State Medical University, under the Russian Ministry of Health, have advanced a new material designed to deliver antitumor drugs directly to cancer cells. The innovation is built on a sea urchin skeleton, a biocompatible scaffold that can be engineered to optimize drug delivery. The study, published in Materials Reports from Scientific Russia, highlights how this marine-derived structure holds promise for improving chemotherapy precision.

The team produced a composite material that centers on the sea urchin skeleton, focusing on a specific species known as Mesocentrotus nudus. By treating the skeleton with sodium silicate, researchers increased its resistance to dissolution, reinforcing the scaffold so it can function effectively within the body. Laboratory tests demonstrated that the resulting multilayer honeycomb architecture not only absorbs the cancer-fighting drug 5-fluorouracil, commonly referred to as 5-FU, but also releases it gradually in small, controlled doses. This sustained release profile is key to maintaining therapeutic levels at tumor sites over extended periods while reducing systemic exposure.

According to the research team, drug-loaded nanoparticles derived from this material can deliver therapeutic doses of 5-FU for longer durations than several existing delivery systems described in the scientific literature. Prolonged, targeted release has the potential to lower the risk of tumor recurrence following surgical removal of cancerous tissue. The principal investigators for the project include scientists from the Far Eastern Federal University, with collaboration from the Pacific State Medical University, and insights were provided by the Institute of Nuclear Technologies, Laboratory of High Technologies and Advanced Materials at FEFU. The findings underscore the potential of this approach to refine chemotherapy protocols by concentrating treatment within malignant tissue while sparing healthy cells.

In practical terms, this development could enable cancer chemotherapy to operate with a more tumor-centric focus. The design aims to minimize damage to healthy tissues, thereby reducing adverse side effects such as hematologic suppression, heart and liver stress, and other systemic toxicities associated with traditional chemotherapy regimens. The use of a sea urchin based scaffold offers a natural, biocompatible matrix that can be tailored to carry potent drugs and release them in a controlled manner, aligning with the broader movement toward precision oncology.

5-FU remains one of the most widely used anticancer agents, particularly for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, and certain head and neck regions. While effective against tumor cells, this drug can also impact healthy cells, leading to side effects such as diminished white blood cell and platelet counts, and potential harm to the heart, kidneys, and liver. The ongoing research into targeted delivery systems seeks to mitigate these risks by concentrating drug activity where it is most needed and reducing collateral damage to healthy tissues.

Beyond these findings, the study also signals a broader trend in oncological research toward leveraging natural, biocompatible materials as delivery platforms. By combining biologically derived scaffolds with advanced nanotechnology, scientists are exploring how to fine tune drug release profiles, enhance tumor selectivity, and improve overall patient outcomes. The Sea Urchin Skeleton-based approach represents a compelling example of how creative material design can contribute to safer, more effective cancer therapies in the near term.

In summarizing the potential impact, the research team emphasizes that further work will focus on optimizing the synthesis process, evaluating long-term biocompatibility, and conducting preclinical assessments to validate the system’s performance in living organisms. If these studies prove favorable, the technology could become part of future chemotherapy regimens, offering a more precise means of administering antitumor drugs while protecting healthy tissue and reducing systemic toxicity. The work stands as a notable contribution to the field of targeted drug delivery and materials science, illustrating how nature-inspired design can inform the next generation of cancer treatments.

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