Czech scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy and CEITEC Masaryk University have developed new molecular structures that could significantly advance cancer treatment. These so-called 'supramolecular nanocages' can deliver drugs directly to cancer cells, thereby increasing the effectiveness of treatment while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This amazing achievement was reported by all major Czech media outlets last week.
The basic principle of the therapy involves the use of bile acids that have been chemically modified into organic ligands and then bound to palladium ions. These structures easily penetrate cell membranes and release the toxic substance directly into the target cells, limiting their viability.
The production of nanocages is surprisingly simple—the components are dissolved, gently heated, and within an hour they self-assemble into a stable structure. The most challenging part of the research was the detailed analysis of the arrangement of these molecules, which required a combination of experimental methods and computational chemistry.
Tests in biological studies have yielded promising results. Nanocages increased the amount of palladium that penetrated the cancer cells by almost sixty times, leading to their reduction and weakening. The same amount of palladium without this structure, on the other hand, had no significant effect.
According to the researchers, these molecular structures hold great potential. If applied to practical use, they could offer more efficient and gentler cancer treatment, with fewer side effects and faster patient recovery. The discovery could also inspire new therapeutic approaches in other areas of medicine.
We would like to extend a big congratulations to Doctor Ondřej Jurček and his team and wish them further scientific success!
This wonderful development has been published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
Petr Pargač hesitated for a long time between studying pharmacy and dentistry. In the end, he chose pharmacy, graduating from Masaryk University in 2022, and then set out abroad to gain experience. Today, he runs a pharmacy in a small Norwegian town 350km above the Arctic Circle.
