Cancer drug delivery made possible by “masked” bacteria

March 18, 2022
Cancer drug delivery made possible by “masked” bacteria

Researchers have developed a cloaking system that temporarily hides therapeutic bacteria from immune detection, in cancer-ridden mouse models. Professors of engineering at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science (Columbia Engineering), programmed gene circuits to build a protective molecular “cloak” around bacteria – this ingenious system opens up a new drug delivery strategy specifically for metastasised and distal tumours.

According to data, the ideal bacteria should be able to evade the immune system as it makes its way to the tumour. Once the job is done, the bacteria must also be safely eliminated in other parts of the body to minimise toxicity.

[Despite their intended use for drug delivery, bacteria are nevertheless alive and can proliferate within the body. They are detected by the body’s immune systems as foreign and dangerous, causing high inflammatory response – too much bacteria translates to high toxicity while too little bacteria means no therapeutic efficacy.]

Columbia Engineering researchers focused on capsular polysaccharides (CAP) which are sugar polymers that coat bacterial surfaces to engineer a new system was called inducible CAP, or iCAP. In nature, CAP helps many bacteria to protect themselves from attacks including immune systems.

iCAP then allows for “programmable and dynamic alteration of the bacterial cell surface” using a small molecule known as IPTG. iCAP enabled the researchers to control the time to which bacteria can survive in human blood, in this case by tuning how much IPTG they give to the iCAP E. coli.

However, when the researchers did not give IPTG to the animal subjects, the E. coli iCAP was noted to lose its encapsulation over time and was easier to be eliminated in other parts of the body, thus minimising toxicity.

Additionally, the iCAP system was able to control both tumour growth and bacterial leakage in the animal models. Past studies have shown that low levels of bacteria leak out from tumours upon tumour growth. But with iCAP the researchers demonstrated controllable bacterial migration within the body – they injected E. coli iCAP into one tumour, fed the mice with water containing IPTG, activated iCAP within the tumour, and saw E. coli iCAP leak out and migrate to uninjected tumours.

Kam Leong, Columbia’s Samuel H. Sheng Professor of Biomedical Engineering, said, “Bacterial cancer therapy holds unique advantages over conventional drug therapy, such as efficient targeting of the tumour tissue and programmable drug release. Potential toxicity has been limiting its full potential. The cloaking approach presented in this study may address this critical issue.”

Read: Cancer drug delivery made more potent with microbubbles

Tags: ,

Category: Education, Features

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to HCA for exclusive updates

Top Viewed News

12 simple steps to a healthy lifestyle

12 simple steps to a healthy lifestyle

Now that the world has returned to normalcy following the pandemic, everyone is back to their daily routines and encounters with stress... Read More

AZBIL: Envisioning the Future of Hospitals

AZBIL: Envisioning the Future of Hospitals

As we strive to be the hospital of choice, why not refine our commitment to excellence beyond the pivotal mission of saving lives?... Read More

Study Unlocks Key Findings on Asian Carriers of Breast Cancer

Study Unlocks Key Findings on Asian Carriers of Breast Cancer

Malaysian researchers at Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) and the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) have published... Read More

 Unmasking the Risks of Mercury-Laden Cosmetics

Unmasking the Risks of Mercury-Laden Cosmetics

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thus subjective; but in some countries, the ideal of beauty begins... Read More

5 key hospital etiquettes to be mindful of when visiting a sick patient

5 key hospital etiquettes to be mindful of when visiting a sick patient

In moments of illness, the presence of loved ones can comfort and support. However, it’s important for visitors... Read More

Free counters!

2025 – 2026 Exhibitions



2025 Events


9-11 July
Medical Device Development (MEDIX) – Osaka
Makuhari Messe, Japan
www.manufacturing-world.jp


14-16 July
Lab Asia
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia
www.lab-asia.com


16-18 July
Medlab Asia | Asia Health
Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur
www.medlabasia.com


24 July
Medlab Asia | Asia Health
Singapore
www.conversationaltechsummitasia.com


13-15 August
Philippines Medical
SMX Convention Center Manila Philippines
www.philmedical.com


21-23 August
REHACARE China
Suzhou, China
www.rehacare-c.com


21-23 August
Medical Fair China
Suzhou, China
www.medicalfair.cn


3-5 September
Thailand Lab International
BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
www.thailandlab.com


3-5 September
Bio Ap International
BITEC, Bangkok
www.bioapinter.com


9-12 September
China Dental Show
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
www.chinadentalshow.com


10-11 September
Hospital Management Asia
Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
www.hospitalmanagementasia.com


10-12 September
Medical Fair Thailand
BITEC, Bangkok
www.medicalfair-thailand.com


10-12 September
GITEX Digi Health & Biotech Thailand
BITEC, Bangkok
www.www.gitexdigihealth.com


11-13 September
Bio Asia Pacific
BITEC, Bangkok
www.bioasiapacific.com


16-18 September
OSH India
Hall-6, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E)
www.oshindia.com


24-26 September
Medtec China
Shanghai, China
www.en.medtecchina.com


7-9 October
Malaysia Pharma and Healthcare Expo
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
www.mphcexpo.com


9-11 October
Medical Japan Tokyo
Makuhari Messe, Japan
www.medical-jpn.jp


17-19 October
Health Asia
BITEC, Bangkok
www.health-asia.com


17-19 October
Health Asia
BITEC, Bangkok
www.health-asia.com


29-30 October
United Medical Expo
Astana, Kazakhstan
www.umtexpo.com


7-8 November
Eldercare Exhibition and Conference Asia (ELDEX Asia)
Suntex Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre
www.eldexasia.com


10-12 November
Saudi International Pharma Expo
Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center
www.saudipharmaexpo.com


10-12 November
Saudi International MedLab Expo
Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center
www.saudimedlabexpo.com


27-29 November
International Wellness Expo (IWE 2025)
METIC, Malaysia
www.internationalwellnessexpo.com


27-29 November
Vietnam Medi-Pharm
Friendship Cultural Palace , Hanoi
www.vietnammedipharm.vn


2026 Events


9-12 Febuary
Arab Health
Dubai World Trade Centre
www.arabhealthonline.com


15-17 April
Lab Indonesia
Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Indonesia
www.lab-indo.com


28-30 April
SEACare
MITEC, KL
wwww.ea-healthcare.com


6-7 May
HealthTechX Asia
Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore
www.healthtechx-asia.com


4-6 June
International Health Industry Expo
China
www.ihe-china.com


16-18 June
CPhI China
SNIEC, Shanghai, China
www.cphi.com


25-27 June
Medical Taiwan
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan
www.medicaltaiwan.com.tw


9-11 September
Medical Fair Asia
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
www.medicalfair-asia.com


9-11 September
Medical Manufacturing Asia
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
www.medmanufacturing-asia.com


1-2 October
GITEX Vietnam
Hanoi
www.gitexasia.com