A team of researchers, including Eden Tanner, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has developed a promising approach to combat triple-negative breast cancer using sugar-coated nanoparticles. An exciting new study in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials provides fresh promise for what has long been a ravaging affliction to young women. This matter has a profound impact on Black and African American communities.
Triple-negative breast cancer is a critical unmet need across oncology. As stated in a 2024 report from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, 37% of breast cancer cases treated in Mississippi between 2016 and 2023 were found to be triple-negative. This rate is over twice the national average, emphasizing the critical need for lifesaving therapies.
Research Overview
Just recently our very own junior chemistry major Mira Patel of Vicksburg, MS and research assistant Gaya S. Dasanayake got that chance with their collaborative study. Jointly, they research sugar-coated nanoparticles as a targeted treatment approach. Enclosed in a shell of glucose molecules, these nanoparticles are engineered to fool cancer cells into taking up the drugs they deliver. As a result, this innovative approach has the potential to improve treatment effectiveness of triple-negative breast cancer patients, who have few options available.
Tanner elaborated that the sugar coating is just to hide the fact. It’s this disguise that allows the nanoparticles to catch a ride on both red and white blood cells after injection into the bloodstream. By targeting the drug directly to cancer cells, this approach increases the efficacy of the treatment. It helps to minimize the dangerous side effects associated with standard chemotherapy. After years of research, by targeting the cancerous cells effectively, the researchers have a goal of increasing the efficacy and improvement of patients’ lives.
These research results highlight the importance of developing personalized therapies for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Given that more than 1 in 10 breast cancer diagnoses are triple-negative, the need for effective treatments is dire. The DOI of the study—10.1002/adhm.202500592—opens a door to discovering even more about their trailblazing research.
Implications for Public Health
The increasing rate of triple-negative breast cancer for Mississippi is a tremendous public health burden. Young women and minorities are especially hard hit by the increase. It’s time to redirect research to get serious about identifying and addressing root causes.
Given these trends, Tanner and her team’s work comes at a critical and crucial juncture. Their findings contribute to the widening knowledge base aimed at improving treatment for this particularly aggressive type of breast cancer. This form of cancer has a worse prognosis than many others, which makes these donations that much more important. Their truly novel application of sugar-coated nanoparticles to deliver drugs directly at the tumor site could mark a major breakthrough in combatting this dangerous disease.
With only a handful of effective treatments currently available, the researchers hope to bring more options to patients with triple-negative breast cancer. They’re convinced that their novel nanoparticle therapy has the potential to help them do it. As public health officials seek to understand and address concerning cancer trends, studies such as this one offer new and important information about effective interventions.
Future Directions
Looking forward Tanner and her team still have a lot of research ahead to identify the best ways to use their nanoparticle therapy. They want to explore different formulations and dosages to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity. The team is investigating additional collaboration with clinical partners to support future human trials.
The possible uses of their discovery reach far beyond breast cancer therapy. That technology behind sugar-coated nanoparticles could lead to advanced therapies, delivering similar treatments to many other cancers and diseases. By honing in on this method, Tanner’s team aims to help empower a larger knowledge of ways nanotechnology could transform the practice of medicine.