Australian scientists have genetically-engineered algae for a promising new a cancer treatment.

Researchers from the University of South Australia have published reports on a process that saw the custom algae nanoparticles kill 90 per cent of cancer cells in cultured human cells.

The algae were similarly successful at killing cancer in mice.

An Australian team led by Nico Voelcker worked with German experts to engineer diatom algae and loaded it with chemotherapeutic drugs.

The team found that when the nanoparticles were injected into mice, their tumours regressed.

Diatom algae is a tiny, single-celled, photosynthesising algae that measures about five micrometres in diameter, and has a porous skeleton made of silica.

While chemotherapeutic drugs are toxic to healthy tissue, the researchers successfully loaded the drugs into the silica structure.

They then genetically-modified the algae to produce a protein on its surface that binds to specific antibodies.

The antibody would bind itself only to molecules found on cancer cells, allowing the algae to target and deliver drugs to cancer cells.

“These data indicate that genetically-engineered biosilica frustules may be used as versatile ‘backpacks’ for the targeted delivery of poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs to tumour sites,” the report authors wrote.

Given that most algae need only water and light to grow, the team says the technique could help massively cut cost and waste of medical nanoparticle manufacturing, and could be a central part of future cancer treatments.

“Although it is still early days, this novel drug delivery system based on a biotechnologically tailored, renewable material holds a lot of potential for the therapy of solid tumours including currently untreatable brain tumours,” Voelcker said.

The full report is accessible here.