Researchers have developed a new nanomedicine, SH-EM-NP/EPI, aimed at improving treatment for bladder cancer by addressing key limitations of current therapies. In non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which accounts for about 75% of cases, recurrence rates remain high—up to 70% within five years—largely because drugs are quickly flushed out of the bladder and struggle to penetrate tumor tissue.
The new therapy uses nanoparticles loaded with the chemotherapy drug epirubicin, coated with a modified bacterial membrane. This design allows the treatment to stick to the bladder lining for more than 24 hours, resisting washout from urination, while also triggering biological changes that help the drug penetrate deeper into tumors.
In preclinical studies, the therapy showed strong results, inhibiting over 90% of tumor growth in both NMIBC and muscle-invasive disease. When combined with immunotherapy, it eliminated all primary tumors and significantly reduced metastases. Researchers also reported no major systemic side effects, suggesting the approach could offer a safer and more effective bladder-preserving treatment option.