Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39692188›Full record

ArticleSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2025

Localized Microrobotic Delivery of Enzyme-Responsive Hydrogel-Immobilized Therapeutics to Suppress Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Mingzhen Tian, Meysam Keshavarz, Ali Anil Demircali, Bing Han, Guang-Zhong Yang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  14. Embodied Cross-Domain Intelligence in Biomedical Microrobots: A Review.Cyborg and bionic systems (Washington, D.C.) · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mingzhen TianInstitute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.ORCID 0009-0007-0573-0263
Meysam KeshavarzThe Hamlyn Centre, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6813-4860
Ali Anil DemircaliDepartment of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3545-3654
Bing HanInstitute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9763-0372
Guang-Zhong YangInstitute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.

Funding

Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project 2021SHZDZX
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by its aggressive metastatic propensity and lack of effective targeted therapeutic options, poses a major challenge in oncological management. A proof-of-concept neoadjuvant strategy aimed at inhibiting TNBC tumor growth and mitigating metastasis through a localized delivery of chemotherapeutics is reported in this paper. This approach addresses the limitations in payload capacity and stimuli responsiveness commonly associated with microrobotics in oncology. A hydrogel-based system is developed for the immobilization of chemotherapeutic agents, subsequently encapsulated within magnetically responsive microrobots. This design leverages external magnetic fields to facilitate the precise navigation and localization of the therapeutic agents directly to the tumor site. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated in an animal model, in which a significant 14-fold reduction in tumor size and suppression of metastasis to critical organs such as the liver and lungs are observed. Crucially, the drug release mechanism is engineered to be responsive to the tumor microenvironment and is regulated by the overexpression of the enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9) in TNBC tumors, triggering the degradation of the hydrogel matrix, leading to controlled release of the immobilized therapeutic drug. This ensures that the therapeutic action is localized, reducing systemic toxicity and enhancing treatment efficacy. These findings suggest that this neoadjuvant approach holds promise for broader applications in other cancer types.

Indexed as

Drug Delivery SystemsHydrogelsTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorFemaleHumansMatrix Metalloproteinase 2Matrix Metalloproteinase 9MiceHydrogelsMatrix Metalloproteinase 2Matrix Metalloproteinase 9controlled releasedrug delivery systemshydrogel carrierslocalized therapymicrorobotstriple‐negative breast cancertumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID39692188
PMCPMC12051738

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.