A team from the University of Geneva has designed a molecular system that distinguishes and neutralises cancer cells with unprecedented precision, paving the way for autonomous, self-regulating drugs. Using synthetic DNA strands, the smart system recognises cancer cells with exceptional precision and releases powerful drugs only where they are needed. Beyond cancer treatment, this research paves the way to “smart” medicines and programmable drug delivery. The corresponding article for the research is published in Nature Biotechnology. Directly targeting cancer cells transforms therapy The ability to directly target tumour cells with drugs is transforming cancer therapy, helping preserve healthy tissue and reducing the severe side effects associated with chemotherapy. Amongst the most promising approaches of recent decades are antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which use monoclonal antibodies to deliver therapeutic agents precisely to cancer cells. Despite their remarkable success, ADCs still face significant limitations, including poor penetration into tumour tissue and limited capacity to carry drug payloads. DNA strands help overcome downfalls In this new system, independent DNA strands carry distinct components, including two different cancer-targeting binders and …