The team’s study, featured in the August issue of the esteemed journal Small Science, highlights the dual challenge of this innovative treatment: not only does it target glioblastoma cells with precision, but it also manages to penetrate the brain’s protective barriers.
The nanoparticles developed have a diameter ranging from 50 to 80 nanometers and a length of approximately 170 nanometers. For perspective, one nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter—equivalent to about 100,000 times thinner than a sheet of paper.
The field of nanomedicine, which involves using nanoscale materials to treat diseases, is gaining momentum in cancer research. The BM nanoparticles demonstrate significant potential as a promising and safe treatment specifically for glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma is a common and highly aggressive brain cancer. Patients diagnosed with this condition are classified as having stage four cancer, the most severe stage. Each year, approximately 250,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with glioblastoma, and the median survival rate post-diagnosis is a mere 14 to 16 months.
Traditional treatment approaches, which include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, often fall short due to the cancer’s resistance to conventional therapies and the challenge of drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier—a natural defense mechanism that prevents many substances from entering the brain.
The research team tackled this issue by exploring phytochemicals from medicinal plants that could self-assemble into nanoparticles. Among these, bardoxolone methyl was found to be exceptionally effective in not only crossing the blood-brain barrier but also in eliminating glioblastoma cells.
Further enhancing the efficacy of this treatment, the BM nanoparticles were combined with the anticancer peptide P28 and the vasodilator lexiscan (LEX), resulting in P28-LBM nanoparticles. This combination allowed for even greater tumor penetration due to an autocatalytic effect: upon reaching the tumor, the nanoparticles release LEX, which increases the tumor membrane’s permeability, allowing more nanoparticles to enter.
The research demonstrated that the P28-LBM nanoparticles induce pyroptosis, a form of cell death that significantly suppresses tumor growth. Mice injected with these nanoparticles showed substantial tumor suppression with minimal weight loss, suggesting low systemic toxicity and potential safety for intravenous use. Additionally, no significant tissue or liver damage was observed.
The team believes that the unique spindle shape of these nanoparticles may enhance their ability to penetrate tumors more effectively compared to spherical particles. This innovative approach holds great promise for developing safe and effective treatments for glioblastoma in the future.
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