Skip to main content

Like little homing missiles, nanorobots target tumors for direct drug delivery

Like little homing missiles, teams of nanorobots can now swim through bloodstreams, target cancerous tissue, and deliver a drug deep into the tumor without harming surrounding healthy tissues, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology by a team of researchers from Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal and McGill University.

Once inside the tumor, the nanorobots’ job isn’t done. A sensor that measures oxygen concentration allows the bots to autonomously detect low-oxygen zones — which are active cancer areas, generally resistant to therapies — for direct drug delivery.

Recommended Videos

Although the researchers refer to the vessels as robotic agents, they’re actually organic, made up of small bacteria.

Dr. Sylvain Martel, Director of the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory’s, had the idea to propel drug-carrying nanobots with bacteria’s whip-like flagella and he decided it would be easier to use actual bacteria than to develop artificial ones. Realizing that he would need a way to “communicate” with these bacteria, he searched for an alternative.

“This is when I came across magnetotactic bacteria that could be directed by a magnetic field,” Martel told Digital Trends. “Since passing a current in an electrical wire generate an electromagnetic field, this provide the communication and navigation link between the computer and the bacteria acting as nanorobots.”

The resulting “legions” of nanorobots are composed of more than 100 million flagellated bacteria that navigate smoothly through bloodstreams and into tumors, according to the scientist.

In addition to the oxygen concentration sensor that leads them to the active cancer regions, the bots are equipped with magnetic nanoparticles inside the bacteria’s cells that can be controlled with an external magnetic field.

Martel thinks the transportation techniques developed for these bots will help physicians rethink medical intervention methods and reconsider the vessels used to deliver therapies and diagnostics. “Chemotherapy, which is so toxic for the entire human body, could make use of these natural nanorobots to move drugs directly to the targeted area, eliminating the harmful side effects while also boosting its therapeutic effectiveness,” he said in a press release.

Dyllan Furness
Former Contributor
Dyllan Furness is a freelance writer from Florida. He covers strange science and emerging tech for Digital Trends, focusing…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more