Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Novel In Vitro Approach Using Drug-Loaded Nanobubbles and Focused Ultrasound for Glioblastoma Therapy
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most prevalent and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, presenting significant therapeutic challenges due to its invasive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) further complicates treatment by restricting the entry of most chemotherapeutic agents. This project explores the potential of using nanobubbles (NBs) and focused ultrasound (FUS) to enhance drug delivery to GBM. NBs, due to their nanoscale size, drug encapsulation capacity, and stability, offer a promising platform for targeted drug delivery. FUS, a non-invasive technique, can induce cavitation of NBs, temporarily and reversibly opening the BBB to facilitate increased drug penetration at targeted brain sites. This project will address the limitations of current GBM treatments by leveraging the synergistic effects of NBs and FUS, potentially leading to significant improvements in drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes.
