Nasal drops fight brain tumors noninvasively

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, along with collaborators at Northwestern University, have developed a noninvasive approach to treat one of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers. Their technology uses precisely engineered structures assembled from nano-size materials to deliver potent tumor-fighting medicine to the brain through nasal drops. The novel delivery method is less invasive than similar treatments in development and was shown in mice to effectively treat glioblastoma by boosting the brain’s immune response. The findings were published this month in PNAS.

This experimental “super vaccine” stopped cancer cold in the lab

UMass Amherst researchers have developed a groundbreaking nanoparticle-based cancer vaccine that prevented melanoma, pancreatic, and triple-negative breast cancers in mice—with up to 88% remaining tumor-free. The vaccine triggers a multi-pathway immune response, producing powerful T-cell activation and long-term immune memory that stops both tumor growth and metastasis. By combining cancer-specific antigens with a lipid nanoparticle “super adjuvant,” it overcomes key challenges in cancer immunotherapy.

Brain tumours in mice grow more slowly when starved of key amino acid

Some glioblastomas steal serine from their environment — a weakness that opens the door to treatment.

See more at Nature News and Nature.

Tens of Scientists discover how to wipe out breast cancer’s hidden cells

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have shown for the first time that it’s possible to detect dormant cancer cells in breast cancer survivors and eliminate them with repurposed drugs, potentially preventing recurrence. In a clinical trial, existing medications cleared these hidden cells in most participants, leading to survival rates above 90%. The findings open a new era of proactive treatment against breast cancer’s lingering threat, offering hope to survivors haunted by the fear of relapse.

Tens of millions of nanoneedles could replace painful cancer biopsies

A patch containing tens of millions of microscopic nanoneedles could soon replace traditional biopsies, scientists have found. Research from KCL reported in Nature Nanotechnology.

Study reveals surprising side effects of high-dose radiation therapy

In a new study published in Nature, researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center explore a surprising phenomenon in which high doses of radiation cause growth in existing metastatic tumors that weren’t directly treated with radiation.

New nanoparticle could make cancer treatment safer, more effective

Scientists create a tiny particle for use with focused ultrasound on solid tumors.

New genetic delivery system targets lungs to treat cancer, cystic fibrosis

PORTLAND, Ore. – Scientists have made a key breakthrough for treating respiratory diseases by developing a new drug delivery system that transports genetic therapies directly to the lungs, opening promising possibilities for patients with conditions like lung cancer and cystic fibrosis.

Brain drugs can now cross the once impenetrable blood–brain barrier

Scientists Use AI to Better Understand Nanoparticles

A team of scientists has developed a method to illuminate the dynamic behavior of nanoparticles, which are foundational components in the creation of pharmaceuticals, electronics, and industrial and energy-conversion materials. The advance, reported in the journal Science, combines artificial intelligence with electron microscopy to render visuals of how these tiny bits of matter respond to stimuli. 

New Lipid Nanoparticle Platform Delivers mRNA to the Brain Through the Blood-Brain Barrier

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a lipid nanoparticle system capable of delivering messenger RNA (mRNA) to the brain via intravenous injection, a challenge that has long been limited by the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier. The findings, in mouse models and isolated human brain tissue, were published in the February 17 online issue of Nature Materials. They demonstrate the potential of this technology to pave the way for future treatments for a wide range of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brain cancer, and drug addiction.

Scientists Design Peptides to Enhance Drug Efficacy

A team of scientists has developed a groundbreaking approach using specially designed peptides to improve drug formulations. This innovative method significantly enhances anti-tumor efficacy, as demonstrated in leukemia models. The study, published in the journal Chem, was led by researchers at the CUNY ASRC and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

SCP-Nano: A New Technology to Visualize Nanocarriers in Cells and Tissues

How can we ensure that life-saving drugs or genetic therapies reach their intended target cells without causing harmful side effects? Researchers at Helmholtz Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) and Technical University Munich (TUM) have taken an important step to answer this question. They have developed a method that, for the first time, enables the precise detection of nanocarriers – tiny transport vehicles – throughout the entire mouse body at a single-cell level. This innovation, called “Single-Cell Profiling of Nanocarriers” or short “SCP-Nano”, combines advanced imaging with artificial intelligence to provide unparalleled insights into the functionality of nanotechnology-based therapies. The results, published in Nature Biotechnology, pave the way for safer and more effective treatments, including mRNA vaccines and gene therapies.

Organoids represent the complex cell landscape of pancreatic cancer

A team led by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has, for the first time, grown tumor organoids – three-dimensional miniature tumors in the laboratory – that mimic the different structures and characteristics of pancreatic cancer. The scientists investigated how the various tumor organoids react to established and novel treatments. This opens the door to the development of effective new therapies.

Engineered cells take drugs deep into the brain ― and nowhere else

Implantable microparticles can deliver two cancer therapies at once

The combination of phototherapy and chemotherapy could offer a more effective way to fight aggressive tumors. For more, see the news item and the original article.

Cancers grow uniformly throughout their mass

Researchers at the University of Cologne and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona have discovered that cancer grows uniformly throughout its mass, rather than at the outer edges. The work, published today in the journal eLIFE, challenges decades-old assumptions about how the disease grows and spreads.