The in vitro experiment carried out by the research team of the University of Mississippi in the United States confirmed that the flexible nano vesicles prepared by 3D printing technology can accurately load anti-cancer drugs directly to the tumor core and effectively kill breast cancer cells. This breakthrough has opened up a new path for targeted anti-cancer therapy: drugs directly reach the lesion, significantly reducing the side effects of traditional chemotherapy that patients endure. The relevant results were published in the latest issue of the journal Drug Research. Traditional chemotherapy often involves oral or intravenous injection, with drugs circulating throughout the body through the bloodstream. Although anti-cancer drugs can target rapidly dividing cancer cells, they inevitably "accidentally harm" hair follicles, intestinal mucosa, and skin cells that are also actively proliferating. This is the root cause of the side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss, nausea, vomiting, and anemia. This time, the team encapsulated anti-cancer drugs in 3D printed microstructures and delivered them directly to the lesion with the carrier, allowing the drugs to accumulate locally in the tumor, avoiding systemic exposure and reducing drug side effects. The team used the "Free Form Reversible Embedded Suspension Hydrogel" (FRESH) 3D printing technology to create drug loaded vesicles with a diameter of only 200 to 300 nm, while the diameter of human hair is about 100000 nm. These nanocarriers, with their small size, can easily penetrate cell membranes and deliver high concentrations of anticancer drugs directly into the interior of diseased cells. Most anti-cancer drugs need to penetrate deep into the cell to take effect, interfere with RNA synthesis, or block key signaling pathways. If the drug cannot cross the cell membrane barrier, no matter how strong its efficacy is, it will be of no use. The latest therapy focuses on the local area of the lesion, especially suitable for early stages of cancer. It is expected to nip the tumor in the bud before it spreads and metastasizes, winning valuable opportunities for patients. However, the current achievements are still laboratory explorations, and in the future, they will need to undergo in vitro and in vivo (animal models) validation before they can truly benefit patients. (New Society)