Self-propelling, protein-bound magnetic nanobots for efficient in vitro drug delivery in triple negative breast cancer cells

The emergence of self-propelling magnetic nanobots represents a significant advancement in the field of drug delivery. These magneto-nanobots offer precise control over drug targeting and possess the capability to navigate deep into tumor tissues, thereby addressing multiple challenges associated with conventional cancer therapies. Here, Fe-GSH-Protein-Dox, a novel self-propelling magnetic nanobot conjugated with a biocompatible protein surface and loaded with doxorubicin for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is reported. The self-propulsion of magnetic nanobots occurs due to a catalytic interaction between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and hydrogen peroxide. This interaction results in generation of O2 bubbles and high-speed propulsion in blood serum. Cell entry kinetic studies confirmed higher internalization of the drug into TNBC cells with Fe-GSH-Protein-Dox nanobots, resulting in a lower observed IC50 and higher potential to kill cancer cells compared to free doxorubicin. Moreover, fluorescence imaging studies confirmed an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to maximum cellular damage. Endocytosis studies elucidate the mechanism of cellular internalization, revealing clathrin-mediated endocytosis, while the cell cycle study demonstrates significant cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase. Thus, the designed protein-conjugated self-propelling magnetic nanobots have the potential to develop into a novel drug delivery platform for clinical applications.