DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.cybioel.2024.039
Publication date: 28th June 2024
Treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is highly challenging, with current treatments—surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy—yielding a median survival of just ~15 months. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a semipermeable membrane, complicates drug delivery by blocking potent chemotherapeutic agents from reaching the tumor. This barrier, along with other factors, necessitates innovative approaches to brain cancer treatment. Iontronic pumps (IPs) have emerged as a promising solution. These devices use an ion exchange membrane to precisely control drug release, potentially overcoming the BBB's limitations.
After encouraging results from previous in vitro and in vivo studies, we have now established the operation of IPs in a rat brain tumor model. Utilizing a semi-wireless, Bluetooth-controlled setup, we aim to conduct long-term studies on awake rats. We induce brain tumor growth via a catheter system, through which our device is then inserted for operation. To assess the efficacy within the tissue, we have established protocols to evaluate tumor size, molecular expression of different markers, and pharmacokinetic drug distribution. These experiments aim to evaluate the efficacy of continuous drug dosing in targeting difficult-to-treat tumors over extended periods, taking the chemotherapeutic potential of IPs to the next level.