Scientists have discovered a way to put the worms in a hydrogel suit that allows them to deliver cancer drugs to tumors. Researchers from Osaka University found that mantles of nematodes, which range in size from microscopic to just one millimeter in length, in an envelope made of hydrogel could allow scientists to engineer nematodes. This worm carries a variety of goods. One of the potential cargoes these microscopic worms could carry is cancer drugs that can reach cancer cells directly.
“A. simplex has been reported to be able to sense cancer, likely by detecting the ‘smell’ of cancer and attaching to cancerous tissues,” speak Wildan Mubarok, one of the authors of research was published in the magazine Materials Today Biology.
He added: “This makes us question whether it can be used to deliver anti-cancer treatments directly to tumor cells in the human body.
Anisakis simplex is a species of roundworm commonly found in marine environments but can infect humans when consumed. While nearly a third of all roundworms are parasitic in the wild, they are also one of the most common creatures on the planet.
The scientists soaked the worms in a series of chemicals to create an envelope made of hydrogel. The shell is about 0.01 mm thick and the worm can fit in just 20 minutes. The envelopes did not negatively affect the worms’ mobility or their ability to sniff out chemical signals. The team of researchers then added functional molecules to protect the worms from ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide.
“Our findings suggest that roundworms could be used to transport functional goods to a range of specific targets in the future,” says Mubarok.
Given the versatility and sheer number of different nematodes around, hydrogel armor can be used by scientists for a variety of purposes. Potential applications would be based on the basic function of delivering a material to target sites without the need for invasive procedures.
