Expert opinion on drug deliveryJun 14, 2016

Using tiny medicine particles to treat aggressive brain tumors

mRNA Technology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, with current therapies offering limited survival benefits.

GBM arises from glial cells and is characterized by its aggressive nature.
Current treatment strategies include surgery, high-dose radiation, and chemotherapy, but these have minimal impact on extending survival.
Challenges in GBM therapy include the difficulty of drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and insufficient drug retention at the tumor site.
Nanoscale drug delivery strategies may offer solutions to these challenges by enhancing drug penetration and effectiveness.
Recent advancements in nanomedicine present potential avenues for improved treatment outcomes in patients with brain malignancies.

Simplified

Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer arises from glial cells. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a subtype of glioblastoma, is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor. Currently, GBM therapy includes surgery and post-operative high-doses of radiation and chemotherapy. This therapeutic strategy has a limited contribution in extending the survival rate of GBM patients. Areas covered: Herein, we focus on harnessing nanoscale drug delivery strategies to treat brain malignancies. Specifically, we briefly discuss the challenges facing GBM therapy such as restricted passage across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and low enhanced permeability and retention effect. Next, we describe different pathways to address these challenges. Finally, we discuss the field of nanomedicine, which emerged as a promising platform for drug delivery to brain malignancies. Expert opinion: Countless strategies have been applied in preclinical and clinical settings to treat GBM. Among them is the use of different types of nanoparticles (NPs) and viruses with different approaches to cross or bypass the BBB. We suggest here a paradigm shift in thinking about crossing the BBB and tumor penetration as fundamental issues that need to be address in order to improve the therapeutic outcome in GBM.

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Using tiny medicine particles to treat aggressive brain tumors

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