Nasal drops fight brain tumors noninvasively
Intranasal spherical nucleic acids can noninvasively eliminate glioblastoma in mice by activating the STING pathway.
A team from Washington University School of Medicine and Northwestern University engineered spherical nucleic acid-based nanomedicines that can be delivered via nasal drops to target glioblastoma. The nanoscale carriers transport DNA/RNA fragments that activate the STING pathway in immune cells, leading to robust antitumor immunity. In a mouse model, a single or limited number of intranasal administrations eradicated tumor burden and induced long‑term protective immunity, outperforming previous STING‑activating strategies. The study demonstrates a reproducible, minimally invasive delivery platform that may serve as a foundation for clinical translation in glioblastoma and other immune‑resistant cancers.
Glioblastoma is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor, with limited therapeutic options due to the blood‑brain barrier and poor immunogenicity. This work provides proof‑of‑concept for a noninvasive nanomedicine that can reach the brain, stimulate innate immunity, and destroy tumors, offering a paradigm shift toward safer and more effective brain cancer treatments.
Evidence level: Sejtvonalas. Laboratóriumi sejtekben vizsgálták.