A study led by Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in South Korea details the creation of urea-powered nanomotors that enhance immunotherapy for bladder cancer. The nanomotors open up new possibilities in oncology by more effectively activating the immune system and surpassing the effectiveness of currently used treatments. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Immunotherapy using BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), a weakened bacterium injected into the bladder to trigger an immune response against tumor cells, is currently the standard treatment for non-invasive bladder cancer. Significant drawbacks of this treatment include the requirement for repeated doses, serious adverse effects, and decreased effectiveness in some patients. The novel nanomotor-based treatment provides a more potent substitute, which considerably slows the growth of tumors in preclinical mouse models and more effectively activates the immune system.
Urease is an enzyme these self-propelled nanoparticles use to react with urine urea. Their mobility allows them to be dispersed more effectively throughout the bladder, precisely reaching tumor cells and extending the duration of the medication’s presence in the impacted tissue.
The nanomotors’ surface contains a STING agonist, a crucial molecule in immune system activation.
We have shown that our approach is more effective than conventional BCG treatment in mice, which is a breakthrough in immunotherapy for this type of cancer.
Samuel Sánchez, Study Co-Leader and ICREA Research Professor, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
The researchers paired the nanomotors with a PD-1 inhibitor, a medication that prevents tumor cells from using an escape mechanism, to further strengthen the immune response.
“The combination of our nanomotors with the anti-PD-1 treatment showed a remarkable synergy that could lead to more effective combination therapies with fewer side effects,” added Sánchez.
The study marks a significant advancement in the hunt for novel treatment approaches for bladder cancer, a condition that necessitates intensive and protracted care due to its high recurrence rate.
This study’s participants included PHI BIOMED Co., the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), CIC biomaGUNE of the Basque Country, Seoul National University, and Seoul National University Hospital.
Journal Reference:
Choi, H., et al. (2025) Urease-powered nanomotor containing STING agonist for bladder cancer immunotherapy. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54293-z
News
Does Space-Time Really Exist?
Is time something that flows — or just an illusion? Exploring space-time as either a fixed “block universe” or a dynamic fabric reveals deeper mysteries about existence, change, and the very nature of reality. [...]
Unlocking hidden soil microbes for new antibiotics
Most bacteria cannot be cultured in the lab-and that's been bad news for medicine. Many of our frontline antibiotics originated from microbes, yet as antibiotic resistance spreads and drug pipelines run dry, the soil [...]
By working together, cells can extend their senses beyond their direct environment
The story of the princess and the pea evokes an image of a highly sensitive young royal woman so refined, she can sense a pea under a stack of mattresses. When it comes to [...]
Overworked Brain Cells May Hold the Key to Parkinson’s
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes uncovered a surprising reason why dopamine-producing neurons, crucial for smooth body movements, die in Parkinson’s disease. In mice, when these neurons were kept overactive for weeks, they began to falter, [...]
Old tires find new life: Rubber particles strengthen superhydrophobic coatings against corrosion
Development of highly robust superhydrophobic anti-corrosion coating using recycled tire rubber particles. Superhydrophobic materials offer a strategy for developing marine anti-corrosion materials due to their low solid-liquid contact area and low surface energy. However, [...]
This implant could soon allow you to read minds
Mind reading: Long a science fiction fantasy, today an increasingly concrete scientific goal. Researchers at Stanford University have succeeded in decoding internal language in real time thanks to a brain implant and artificial intelligence. [...]
A New Weapon Against Cancer: Cold Plasma Destroys Hidden Tumor Cells
Cold plasma penetrates deep into tumors and attacks cancer cells. Short-lived molecules were identified as key drivers. Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), working with colleagues from Greifswald University Hospital and [...]
This Common Sleep Aid May Also Protect Your Brain From Alzheimer’s
Lemborexant and similar sleep medications show potential for treating tau-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that a commonly used sleep medication can restore normal sleep patterns and [...]
Sugar-Coated Nanoparticles Boost Cancer Drug Efficacy
A team of researchers at the University of Mississippi has discovered that coating cancer treatment carrying nanoparticles in a sugar-like material increases their treatment efficacy. They reported their findings in Advanced Healthcare Materials. Over a tenth of breast [...]
Nanoparticle-Based Vaccine Shows Promise in Fighting Cancer
In a study published in OncoImmunology, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center and Heidelberg University have created a therapeutic vaccine that mobilizes the immune system to target cancer cells. The researchers demonstrated that virus peptides combined [...]
Quantitative imaging method reveals how cells rapidly sort and transport lipids
Lipids are difficult to detect with light microscopy. Using a new chemical labeling strategy, a Dresden-based team led by André Nadler at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) and [...]
Ancient DNA reveals cause of world’s first recorded pandemic
Scientists have confirmed that the Justinian Plague, the world’s first recorded pandemic, was caused by Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium behind the Black Death. Dating back some 1,500 years and long described in historical texts but [...]
“AI Is Not Intelligent at All” – Expert Warns of Worldwide Threat to Human Dignity
Opaque AI systems risk undermining human rights and dignity. Global cooperation is needed to ensure protection. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has changed how people interact, but it also poses a global risk to human [...]
Nanomotors: Where Are They Now?
First introduced in 2004, nanomotors have steadily advanced from a scientific curiosity to a practical technology with wide-ranging applications. This article explores the key developments, recent innovations, and major uses of nanomotors today. A [...]
Study Finds 95% of Tested Beers Contain Toxic “Forever Chemicals”
Researchers found PFAS in 95% of tested beers, with the highest levels linked to contaminated local water sources. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as forever chemicals, are gaining notoriety for their ability [...]
Long COVID Symptoms Are Closer To A Stroke Or Parkinson’s Disease Than Fatigue
When most people get sick with COVID-19 today, they think of it as a brief illness, similar to a cold. However, for a large number of people, the illness doesn't end there. The World [...]
