One of the leading causes of death globally is cancer, with an estimated ten million annual deaths. Standard treatments such as chemotherapy are not always successful at treating cancer, especially for cancer of the brain. A significant obstacle to treatment delivery is the blood-brain barrier, which is selectively semi-permeable and filters conventional drugs, often limiting their effectiveness. Despite these challenges, scientists may have discovered a potential panacea: nanotechnology. Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of particles at the nanoscale (1-100nm). Due to their extremely small size, nanoparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver targeted therapeutics to the brain.

Nanotechnology has proven to be extremely versatile in aiding the treatment of an array of neurological conditions, including brain cancers. For example, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed nanoparticles that were able to kill the cells of one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, a glioblastoma, by modeling the human blood-brain barrier and testing the effect of the drug-carrying nanoparticles. Glioblastoma tumors remain largely inaccessible to traditional chemotherapy drug approaches, and patients have a high mortality rate as a result. This discovery brings exciting new treatment potential. 

Above: A glioblastoma tumor. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Similarly, researchers at Yale University have demonstrated that nanoparticles can be used to treat medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is a form of cancer that primarily affects children and begins to develop with a tumor deep inside the brain. This growth pattern renders surgery, chemotherapy, and external radiotherapy unfeasible because they either damage cells or are ineffective. The team made the nanoparticles with substances that slowly release a DNA inhibitor, talazoparib. This inhibitor prevents tumorous cells from repairing their DNA, making the cells more likely to die.  

Above: Nanoparticles (red) delivering drugs to the central nervous system. Image courtesy of the Yale School of Medicine.

Researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine have also tested a medical device implanted between the skull and the skin, allowing for the gradual treatment of brain tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding brain tissue. This device emits infrared radiation, which heats nanoparticles that have been injected into the tumor, killing the cancerous cells. In mouse experiments, fifteen minutes of treatment for a fortnight led to a significant increase in brain cancer survival times. The researchers believe that the device can be scaled up for humans within five years.  

Using nanotechnology to target these kinds of brain tumors instead of traditional medication and treatment offers an array of benefits. Nanoparticles allow targeted drug delivery to these tumors, minimizing the side effects compared to chemotherapy and radiation. Nanoparticles also seem to be a more effective treatment with potential applications for glioblastomas and medulloblastomas. Finally, this technology could help avoid the risks of brain surgery and reduce the need for patients to be exposed to anesthesia.

Overall, nanotechnology possesses significant potential. The discovery of nanoparticles that can target tumors is a compelling avenue for further medical and engineering research. Ultimately, this research can help reduce the ten million annual deaths attributed to cancer by acting as an alternative to more conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. 

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Written by Arush Agarwal, this article was selected as a winner of our 2024 High School Science Communication Challenge. Originally from India, Agarwal is a sophomore at Dubai College in Dubai. He is passionate about science and hopes to pursue a STEM-related field. Apart from school, he enjoys playing water polo, reading, and playing the piano.