Theoretical Assessment of Nanosubmarines for Targeted Destruction of Cancer Cells

Targeted destruction of cancer cells represents a highly attractive therapeutic strategy. Conventional anticancer medications lack specificity and often inflict collateral damage upon healthy tissues and organs. Theoretical nanosubmarines have been proposed as tools for safe and efficient delivery of drugs, genes, or non-canonical therapeutics to cancer cells. These mobile nanoscale vehicles offer advantageous navigation capabilities and greater therapeutic indices compared to passive nanoparticles. Cancer cell specificity, targeting potential, and the nature of therapeutic agents can be independently tuned. Core scientific questions include the dynamics of propulsion, steering, and navigational guidance within biologically relevant, viscous fluids; the design of chemically structured, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials; the mechanisms for selective cancer cell identification and disruption; and the safety profile, including potential immunogenicity and unintended toxicities. Endpoints for theoretical study include the feasibility of propulsion-based navigational guidance, the existence of biocompatible materials compatible with the required engineering and functional specifications, and the appraisal of safety concerns relevant to prospective clinical development.