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Scientists Develop Noninvasive Treatment to Fight Aggressive Glioblastoma, Brain Cancer

Nanotechnology

Noninvasive Breakthrough for Aggressive Glioblastoma

Business Honor
24 November, 2025

Researchers developed effective noninvasive treatments that deliver immune-stimulating treatment to the brain, while eliminating glioblastoma tumors.

Northwestern University and the researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis partnered to develop an effective noninvasive treatment for glioblastoma, one of the most severe and deadly brain cancers. Their new technique could reduce the need for surgical operations and injections by delivering cancer-fighting substances directly into the brain using tiny, specifically created nanostructures delivered by simple nasal drops.

The research, which was published in PNAS, focuses on solving one of the main challenges to glioblastoma: getting medicines past the brain's defenses. The most commonly seen deadly brain tumor in the US is glioblastoma, which develops from astrocytes and affects about three out of every 100,000 individuals. Very low survival rates result from its quick development and poor response to modern technology.

The objective was to "revolutionize" the treatment approach by activating the immune system within the brain itself, according to Alexander H. Stegh, PhD, vice chair of research in the WashU Medicine Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), developed by Northwestern researcher Chad A. Mirkin, PhD, are the foundation of the treatment. The gold nanoparticle cores of these SNAs are covered in DNA strands that activate the STING pathway, an important immune-stimulating process.

Researchers used a near-IR tag to monitor the particles' movement and found that the nanodrops followed normal neural connections from the nostrils into the brain. In an experiment on mice, by activating immune cells inside the tumor, this method reduced the side effects. This removed tumors and also created lasting immune protection against their return when combined with medications that increase T-cell activation. The results suggest that this type of technique could offer safer, more successful solutions for people facing the most aggressive cancers in the future.