Professor Vasco Bonifácio (DBE, iBB), in collaboration with researchers from NOVA Medical School and IPOLFG, published in FEBS Open Bio a study on two core-shell polycationic polyurea dendrimers, PURE_G4-OEI₄₈ and PURE_G4-OCEI₂₄, designed to interact with the negatively charged membranes of tumour cells. The study demonstrates selective interaction with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and the activation of distinct cell death pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis. In an HCC1806 xenograft model, both dendrimers reduced tumour volume. PURE_G4-OEI₄₈ showed no relevant systemic toxicity, whereas PURE_G4-OCEI₂₄ caused only mild hepatic toxicity, reinforcing the potential of PURE dendrimers as a new therapeutic platform for TNBC. See more.