Non-degradable ultrasound breaks down the blood-barrier in the brain, facilitating access
The medical world is abuzz with excitement as a groundbreaking new ultrasound device, developed by researchers at the University of Connecticut, could potentially revolutionise the treatment of brain cancers.
This innovative device, which has been the subject of a study published in Science Advances, aims to open pores in the blood-brain barrier, allowing medicine to pass through and reach tumour cells more effectively.
The device, made of glycine crystals and a biodegradable polymer called polycaprolactone (PCL), spun into piezoelectric films, generates ultrasound at 334 kilopascals, similar to a ceramic ultrasound brain implant. Multiple powerful ultrasound devices must be strategically placed around the skull to treat brain cancers.
One of the key advantages of this new device is its biodegradable nature. Unlike traditional ceramic devices, it does not require surgical removal after treatment, making it a safer and more convenient option for patients. The device is coated in other biodegradable polymers to protect it, with Poly-L-Lactide taking approximately six weeks to break down.
The team has conducted a six-month safety test of the device implanted inside the brain of mice, with no adverse effects reported. The device can be repeatedly used and allows chemotherapy to penetrate the brain and kill off tumour cells.
The MRI machine is used to focus the ultrasound on the site of the tumour after chemotherapy is administered in the hospital. The researchers are now set to begin testing the safety and efficacy of the device in large animals.
Kathryn Jablokow, a program director in NSF's Directorate for Engineering, has praised the team's creative solutions to a critical human problem. The study on the new ultrasound device was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
However, getting ultrasound through the thick human skull remains a challenge. Despite the lack of clear information on the biodegradable ultrasound method developed by Thanh Nguyen, the researcher behind this innovative device, the potential benefits for brain cancer treatment are undeniable.
This new ultrasound device offers a promising approach to making brain cancers more treatable, and could pave the way for significant advancements in neuro-oncology.
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