Korean researchers have developed the first cancer-treating nanorobot called a bacteriobot. The bacteriobot is a genetically engineered bacteria attached to a microstructure bead that carries drug payloads. It is designed to target and deliver optimal doses of drugs directly to cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. The researchers tested bacteriobots in mouse models of colorectal and breast cancer, finding the bacteriobots successfully migrated toward and localized around tumor sites. The bacteriobots represent a novel anti-tumor strategy and alternative to chemotherapy that could provide more targeted, continuous drug delivery with fewer side effects.

1. Bacteria based micro robot used in
cancer treatment

2. Korean research team has successfully developed First
Cancer-treating Nanorobot

3. Introduction
• Cancer is the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a
part of the body
• Chemotherapy , is the conventional treatment but..
Damage growing-healthy normal cells blood and hair cells
Not specific and No continuous drug delivery for tissues
Negative side effects ( anemia , nausea )

4. Nano robots in medicine
• This research offer an alternative way instead of chemotherapy
• Bacteria based micro robot ( Bacteriobot )
• Bacteriobot = genetically engineered Bacteria + micro structure bead ( drug )

5. Why Nano robots ?
• Specific .. target cancer cells but not normal cells
• Fast .. one day make sense with cancer treatment
• Depends on biodegradable and biocompatible materials
• optimal drug quantities delivered to the target cells

6. How bacteriobot works?
• To be effective , bacteriobot moves toward tumors acting as combination of
• Micro sensor
• Micro actuator
• Therapeutic agent

7. Designing the experiment
• Tumor model : colorectal cancer , breast cancer 4T1
• Animal model : CT_26 mouse
• Bacteria model : ppGpp S. typhimurium strain SHJ2037

8. Making the bacteriobot

9. How to combine Salmonella to capsule ?
• To deliver drug to tumor cells
• Salmonella work as mechanical engine
• Micro capsule work as drug container

10. Engineering the bacteriobot
• It is a fusion between RT* and BT* presents a novel anti tumor strategy
• Stage 1 : Interaction between biotin – streptavidin
• Biotin found in all living organisms
• Attenuated salmonella genetically modified to express biotin on the outer
membrane of the cell
* RT : Robot technology
* BT : Biotechnology

11. • High affinity interaction between biotin – streptavidin
• Biotin can conjugate to many proteins easily let that protein to interact to with
streptavidin conjugated molecules

12. • Stage 2 : Development of flow-free chemotactic microfluidic chamber
• to evaluate targeting , motility , velocity of bacteriobot
• This device composed of 3 chambers :
Normal cells - Bacteriobots - tumor cells
• Uses fluorescent dyes to see Nano robots target cells

13. flow-free chemotactic microfluidic chamber

14. • Stage 3 : Tumor targeting and localization of bacteriobot
• It is the chemotactic response of bacteriobot to the [con] gradients of various of
cancer cells :
• NIH/3T3 , CT_26 ( colorectal cancer )
• 4T1 ( breast cancer )
• Targeting measured by migration of bacteria out of central region toward the side
chambers

15. Results

17. References
"New Paradigm for Tumor Theranostic Methodology Using Bacteria-
based Microrobot."Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 18
Feb. 2014.
Done by : Belal Abu Haneya
Hashemite University – Jordan
Supervisor : Dr. Abd Allatif Al Ghzawi