# Biomaterial Drones for Image-Guided Drug Delivery during radiotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2020 · $632,501

## Abstract

Project Summary
Radiotherapy is a crucial component of cancer care, employed in the treatment of over 50% of
cancer patients. Patients undergoing image-guided radiotherapy routinely have inert
radiotherapy biomaterials implanted into their tumors. The single function of these inert
biomaterials is to ensure geometric accuracy during treatment. Given that these inert
biomaterials already have such unfettered access to the tumor sub-volume, there is compelling
rationale for upgrading those single function inert biomaterials to multifunctional or `smart' ones
that can deliver additional therapeutic or treatment enhancing benefits. To this end, the central
innovation and overall goal of this project is the development of Biomaterial drones for image-
guided delivery of immunoadjuvants which can substantially boost both local and metastatic
tumor kill with minimal systemic or overlapping toxicities. Our preliminary studies have already
developed and tested the prototypes of our biomaterial drones, showing that they can indeed
boost local and metastatic tumor cell kill. We will build on these preliminary results to optimize
and establish capability for visualization and quantification of the 4 dimensional distribution of
the immunoadjuvant drug payload. Major advantages of employing the drones for image-guided
drug delivery include the following: 1) the drones can be employed at no additional
inconvenience to cancer patients, since they would simply replace currently used inert
biomaterials; 2) controlled in situ delivery of drugs using drones will allow direct delivery to the
tumor, significantly minimizing systemic/overlapping toxicities, which are currently a critical
barrier with competing approaches. 3) the sustained release and intra-tumor bio-distribution of
drug payloads can be visualized and customized to enable superior therapeutic efficacy; 4) the
drones design allows for loading of different therapeutic payloads. The specific aims of this
project will focus on incorporating drug-loaded nanoparticles with inherent computed
tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast for visualization and
quantification of distribution. Successful development of this technology could transform
radiotherapy, allowing the use of the technology to combine radiotherapy and immunotherapy in
one smart device, to boost treatment outcomes for patients with local or metastatic disease.
Because, metastasis is responsible for over 90% of cancer deaths and suffering, many cancer
patients would benefit from this new technology. The image guidance capability will also allow
for treatment planning, and treatment response monitoring needed for facilitating clinical
translation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9864048
- **Project number:** 5R01CA239042-02
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** Wilfred Ngwa
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $632,501
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-15 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9864048

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9864048, Biomaterial Drones for Image-Guided Drug Delivery during radiotherapy (5R01CA239042-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9864048. Licensed CC0.

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