MIT News breed · Science

Injectable Nanoantennas Show Promise Against Glioblastoma

Researchers have developed injectable nanoantennas, named HITMAN, that can be magnetically activated to create localized electric fields to target and kill drug-resistant glioblastoma cells.

The technology uses nanoantennas activated by an external magnetic field to generate therapeutic electric fields that destroy brain cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

In lab tests with patient-derived glioblastoma cells, HITMAN eliminated 52.2% of cancer cells, outperforming TMZ. Healthy cells remained unharmed.

In mice, HITMAN substantially inhibited tumor growth and extended median survival by over 50%, with no significant toxicity observed.

The nanoantennas are activated wirelessly by a magnetic field, producing localized electric fields that disrupt glioblastoma cell bioelectric currents, leading to cell death.

Cancer cells are preferentially targeted due to their high proliferation rate and cellular abnormalities.

Experiments confirmed the effects were due to activated nanoantennas and showed potential in reducing tumor recurrence and metastasis.

A related technology might allow arm injection, with nanoantennas traveling to the brain, crossing the blood-brain barrier.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.