Professor Sylvain Martel, Director of the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory, and a team of researchers from Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal and McGill University have achieved a major leap forward in cancer research by developing new nanorobotic agents able to navigate through the bloodstream to administer a drug with precision by specifically targeting the active cells of cancerous tumours. And this without the usual side effects of chemotherapy.

These legions of nanorobotic agents are in fact made up of more than 100 million drug-loaded bacteria that take the most direct path from the point of the drug’s injection to the area of the body to be treated. Absolutely no one in the world had envisioned this as a solution!

“Québec Science magazine’s Discovery of the Year is the only scientific prize awarded by the general public,” says Marie Lambert-Chan, Editor-in-Chief of Québec Science. “As it does every year, the list of discoveries showed exceptional research work. Those by Professor Martel and his team, however, stood out in the eyes of our readers, who were impressed by the ingenuity of their methods and excited by the hope of beating cancer.”

Professor Martel, who also holds the Canada Research Chair in Medical Nanorobotics, says: “When I started my research activities, my wish was to contribute to initiatives of the scientific community that aim at improving the delivery of drugs to cancerous tumours while also reducing the collateral effects of the treatment. That wish has become a reality thanks to the multidisciplinary co-operation of colleagues from Polytechnique Montréal and other research institutions, and with the support of numerous partners.” He adds: “On behalf of the team, I thank the public for giving our scientific breakthrough the Québec Science magazine ‘Discovery of the Year 2016’ award. This recognition moves us deeply and encourages us to continue our efforts.”

Christophe Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montréal, notes: “Bestowing this prestigious award on the discovery made by Professor Martel and his team shows how the work conducted at our research laboratories has tangible benefits in the field of science, as well as in society at large. I thank Québec Science magazine for giving the public a way of recognizing scientific research excellence in Québec. I also congratulate the finalist teams that made remarkable discoveries: your initiatives contribute to scientific progress and to the development of communities.”

A promising scientific stride

During tests conducted on mice at the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory, the bacteria reached all colorectal tumours that were targeted and 55% of those bacteria penetrated into the heart of the tumours to deliver the drug in a very precise fashion. By contrast, only 1 or 2% of anti-cancer agents reach their target in the course of traditional chemotherapy treatments.

About the research team

The researchers who took part in the research efforts are Michael Atkin, Dominic de Lanauze, Ouajdi Felfoul, Neila Kaou, Dumitru Loghin, Mahmood Mohammadi and Samira Taherkhani from Polytechnique Montréal; Gerald Batist, Nicole Beauchemin, Maryam Tabrizian and Té Vuong from McGill University; Daniel Houle, Sylwia Jancik, Danuta Radzioch and Yong Zhong Xu from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC); Louis Gaboury and Michel Lafleur from Université de Montréal; and Sherief Essa from McGill University and Université de Montréal.

The Jewish General Hospital of Montréal, the MUHC, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) as well as the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre also participated in the research, which received support from the Consortium québécois sur la découverte du médicament (CQDM), the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), MITACS, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

To make a donation at the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory, visit the Polytechnique Foundation online donation website at https://soutien.polymtl.ca/.

From left to right: Christophe Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montréal; Marie Lambert-Chan, Editor-in-Chief of Québec Science; Sylvain Martel, Director of the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory and recipient of the 2016 Québec Science Discovery of the Year People’s Choice award; François Bertrand, Director of Research, Innovation and International Affairs of Polytechnique Montréal.
 

Professor Sylvain Martel and members of his team present at the 2016 Québec Science Discovery of the Year People’s Choice award ceremony.
Back row (from left to right): Michael Atkin (Polytechnique); Dumitru Loghin (Polytechnique); Charles Tremblay (Polytechnique); Neila Kaou (Polytechnique); Michel Lafleur (Université de Montréal).
Front row (from left to right): Dominic De Lanauze (Polytechnique); Mahmood Mohammadi (Polytechnique); Sylvain Martel (Polytechnique); Danuta Radzioch (MUHC); Louis Gaboury (Université de Montréal); Té Vuong (Jewish General Hospital); Nicole Beauchemin (Université McGill); Gerald Baptist (Jewish General Hospital).

To learn more 
Expertise profile of Professor Sylvain Martel
Website Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory
Website of Québec Science scientific magazine