Mayo Clinic and NaNotics Demonstrate NaNots Nanoparticles Restore Anti-Tumor Immunity and Significantly Delay Tumor Growth in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

September 13, 2026

Business Wire USA

Overview

A peer-reviewed study by Mayo Clinic and NaNotics LLC demonstrated a novel nanotechnology approach in cancer immunotherapy using “NaNots” nanoparticles. These engineered adsorptive nanoparticles selectively deplete soluble proteins secreted by tumors that enable immune suppression and tumor growth. In a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, NaNots successfully restored anti-tumor immunity and significantly delayed tumor proliferation, offering a promising new strategy for hard-to-treat cancers.

In Depth

Key Findings

In a recent peer-reviewed study conducted collaboratively by Mayo Clinic and NaNotics LLC, an innovative nanotechnology approach to cancer immunotherapy, dubbed “NaNots,” has been shown to exert significant anti-tumor effects in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. These specially engineered adsorptive nanoparticles, known as NaNots, selectively deplete soluble proteins from the bloodstream that are secreted by tumors to suppress immune responses and facilitate their growth. The research revealed that this approach successfully restored anti-tumor immunity and substantially delayed tumor proliferation.

Technical / Clinical Details

NaNots are biocompatible, adsorptive nanoparticles engineered using advanced nanotechnology. Their unique mechanism of action differs from that of immune checkpoint inhibitors; instead, NaNots physically remove immunosuppressive soluble proteins from the body. Specifically, tumor cells often secrete soluble factors, such as PD-L1, which inhibit the activity of immune cells like T cells, allowing tumors to evade the immune system and proliferate. NaNots act like “sponges,” adsorbing and removing these soluble immunosuppressive proteins, thereby reversing the immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment. The study specifically evaluated this in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly challenging cancer subtype with limited treatment options. The results indicated a significant inhibition of tumor growth in the NaNots-treated group compared to controls, along with confirmed infiltration and activation of immune cells (e.g., T cells) within the tumors. This suggests that the immune system regained its ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. This novel approach holds promise as a new therapeutic option, even for patient populations where existing immunotherapies have limited efficacy.

Background & Industry Context

While cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in recent years, challenges persist, with limited efficacy in some patients and specific cancer types. Triple-negative breast cancer, in particular, is known for its limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Current immune checkpoint inhibitors work by blocking specific signaling pathways between immune and cancer cells, but they may not address all the diverse immunosuppressive factors present in the tumor microenvironment. NaNots offer a fundamentally different approach by physically removing these factors. This “sponge therapy” is considered promising, both in combination with existing immunotherapies and as a standalone treatment for patients with inadequate immune responses. This research underscores nanotechnology’s potential to intervene in complex cancer biology and offer new hope for difficult-to-treat cancers.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The preclinical data strongly suggest that NaNots could offer an effective therapeutic option for drug-resistant and immunosuppressive cancers. Future research will focus on further validating its safety and efficacy for a transition to human clinical trials. If this technology is successful in the clinic, it could become a transformative treatment, dramatically improving outcomes for many cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer. NaNotics LLC is expected to rapidly advance this nanotechnology-based approach, bringing new hope to patients suffering from intractable cancers. This will be a crucial case study demonstrating how the synergy of personalized medicine and nanomedicine can shape the future of cancer treatment.

Source: https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHsS-kbnPctzkSOYERzVq9pfprpU7zZsCJ2rJMhup5rEdS_vFA-rZb7cAyoRuBs6DI-Q1hGdRJznmaDh-bLxJC_KSNr6JK3RPAWqeXsK971QRSQ1x6ZfDUkyo8ghr5UscjzdJ1RNh__apZIoIdglbnAj8BU0-W6QzaSGwK_IW3nE9nF6a3Or2zFW4OiEj5gwWzPbNHRubSPnHGxU5x9NzoDmaT5Ldr4lKTuE4MYOR6KQA_V

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