"NIR-responsive nanobots enable targeted breast cancer phototherapy"
Upconversion Nanoparticle (UCNP)
nanomaterial converting low-energy NIR photons into higher-energy emissions for therapeutic use
Phototaxis
directional movement of nanobots toward a light source, enabling active tumour navigation
Nanotechnology — the manipulation of matter at the scale of 1–100 nanometres — has transformed biomedical research by enabling drug delivery systems that can interact with biological structures at the cellular and molecular level. As established in nanomedicine literature, bulk materials converted to nanoscale acquire novel physicochemical, optical, and electronic properties that make them uniquely suited for medical applications. Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) based on nanocarriers exploit the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect, whereby leaky tumour vasculature allows nanoparticles to accumulate preferentially in tumour tissue — a passive targeting mechanism that underpins most current nanomedicines.
However, passive accumulation has significant limitations: poor spatial control, limited tissue penetration, and inability to actively navigate within complex tumour microenvironments. The next frontier in nanomedicine is active nanorobotics — systems that can be externally controlled to move, target, and treat with precision. India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been a key institutional driver of this research through its autonomous institutes, including the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, which has now produced a landmark advance in this domain.
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Conventional chemotherapy causes severe side effects due to non-specific drug distribution, poor tumour penetration, and lack of active post-administration control — problems that nanorobotics directly addresses. The regulatory framework for such medical innovations in India falls under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, administered by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The INST Mohali research introduces a Upconversion Nanoparticle (UCNP)-based nanobot — a multifunctional, fuel-free nanorobotic platform activated by Near-Infrared (NIR) light at a wavelength of 980 nm. UCNPs are a class of nanomaterials capable of converting low-energy NIR photons into higher-energy emissions (upconversion), enabling them to function under biologically compatible light that penetrates tissue more deeply than ultraviolet or visible light, which can damage healthy cells.
The nanobot's therapeutic mechanism operates through three integrated pathways. First, photothermal therapy (PTT): the nanobot's polydopamine coating absorbs NIR irradiation and generates localised heat, creating a temperature gradient that destroys cancer cells. Second, photodynamic therapy (PDT): a photosensitizer functionalised onto the nanobot's surface generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) upon NIR irradiation, which are cytotoxic to tumour cells. …
With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.
2.Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
1.They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
2.They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
3.They can be used in biochemical sensors.
4.Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the NIR-responsive UCNP nanobot developed for breast cancer therapy, consider the following statements:
1.It relies on the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect for tumour accumulation.
2.It uses folic acid functionalisation to selectively target cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors.
3.It generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) upon near-infrared irradiation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The term 'phototaxis' in the context of nanorobotics refers to:
Which of the following correctly identifies the institution that developed the NIR-responsive UCNP nanobot for breast cancer therapy and its parent body?
Assertion (A): Near-infrared (NIR) light is preferred over ultraviolet or visible light for activating therapeutic nanobots in biological tissue.
Reason (R): NIR wavelengths penetrate biological tissue more deeply and cause less phototoxicity to healthy cells compared to shorter wavelengths.
Select the correct answer:
With reference to nanoparticle-based cancer therapy, which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1.EPR Effect — Active navigation of nanoparticles driven by external stimuli
2.Photodynamic Therapy — Destruction of cancer cells via Reactive Oxygen Species generated by a photosensitizer
3.Upconversion Nanoparticles — Conversion of low-energy NIR photons into higher-energy emissions
Select the correct answer:
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