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Adverse complications associated with systemic administration of

anti-cancer drugs are a major problem in cancer therapy in current

clinical practice. To increase effectiveness and reduce side effects,

localized drug delivery to tumour sites requiring therapy is essential.

Direct delivery of potent anti-cancer drugs locally to the cancer site

based on nanotechnology has been recognised as a promising

alternative approach. Previously, we reported the design and

fabrication of nano-engineered 3D titanium wire based implants

with titania (TiO₂) nanotube arrays (Ti-TNTs) for applications such

as bone integration by using in-vitro culture systems. The aim of

present study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using such

Ti-TNTs loaded with anti-cancer agent for localized cancer therapy

using pre-clinical cancer models and to test local drug delivery

efficiency and anti-tumour efficacy within the tumour environment.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) which has proven

anti-cancer properties was selected as the model drug for therapeutic

delivery by Ti-TNTs. Our in-vitro 2D and 3D cell culture studies

demonstrated a significant decrease in breast cancer cell viability

upon incubation with TRAIL loaded Ti-TNT implants (TRAIL-TNTs).

Subcutaneous tumour xenografts were established to test

TRAIL-TNTs implant performance in the tumour environment

by monitoring the changes in tumour burden over a selected time course.

TRAIL-TNTs showed a significant regression in tumour burden within

the first three days of implant insertion at the tumour site.

Based on current experimental findings these Ti-TNTs wire implants

have shown promising capacity to load and deliver anti-cancer agents

maintaining their efficacy for cancer treatment.

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