Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new "double-punch" nanoparticle platform developed by researchers at UTS, Harvard, and Henan universities can both illuminate hidden glioblastoma cells during surgery and destroy microscopic cancer left behind afterward. In mouse models, every treated animal survived to 60 days — compared to 42 days with surgery alone — with no detectable neurological side effects. The technology hasn't been tested in humans yet, but the results are promising.
Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, has a five-year survival rate of just 7% — largely because cancer cells spread into surrounding tissue, making complete surgical removal nearly impossible. Now, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Harvard, and Henan universities have developed a smart nanoparticle platform that takes a two-step approach to the problem, with findings published in Science Translational Medicine.
The system uses an ultra-thin, atom-engineered sheet that can switch between two roles using the same near-infrared light. During surgery, it acts as a high-sensitivity imaging agent, making tumor cell clusters as small as 44 micrometers visible — sharper than current clinical tools. After the visible tumor is removed, the same material is reintroduced into the surgical cavity, where it generates heat, reactive molecules, and oxygen to destroy microscopic cancer cells that surgery couldn't reach.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: Tumor recurrence after surgery is one of the biggest obstacles in glioblastoma treatment. This platform addresses both the "see it" and "treat it" gaps in a single system — a meaningful step forward, even if human trials are still on the horizon.
