Innovative Magnetically-Guided Therapy for Personalized Brain Tumor Treatment

Brain tumors pose significant challenges due to their complex locations and proximity to critical neural structures. Despite advances in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, accessing and effectively treating certain tumors remains difficult and risky. Addressing this, a recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering reports a groundbreaking approach developed by Prof. Xu Tiantian and her team at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences. They engineered magnetically driven biohybrid blood hydrogel fibers (BBHFs) capable of delivering chemotherapy agents directly to brain tumors with high precision while evading the immune system. These fibers can be inserted minimally invasively and monitored in real time via X-ray fluoroscopy.

Inspired by the natural locomotion of nematodes like Caenorhabditis elegans, the researchers created BBHFs by combining magnetic particles with the patient's blood in situ, followed by magnetization to control orientation. The soft, elastic fibers exhibit an elastic modulus of approximately 100 kPa—softer than gut tissue but more durable than cartilage—and can navigate narrow pathways smaller than their own diameter. This elasticity and adaptability enable BBHFs to maneuver through intricate brain environments.

Controlled by an external magnetic field, these fibers mimic the undulatory movements of nematodes, allowing precise navigation through the brain's complex architecture. The integration of magnetic guidance with X-ray imaging allows real-time tracking during delivery. Furthermore, high-strength magnetic fields can trigger the fibers to split rapidly, releasing therapeutic agents directly at tumor sites.

In laboratory tests, BBHFs loaded with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin successfully delivered drugs to target regions in pig brain models, with minimal off-target effects. Toxicity assessments showed that magnetic particles within the fibers did not accumulate in vital organs, indicating a favorable safety profile. Histological analyses confirmed effective tumor inhibition without immune response or tissue damage.

This innovative technology paves the way for personalized, minimally invasive neurosurgical treatments, combining patient-derived materials, soft robotics, and magnetic control. Such advancements could revolutionize the management of hard-to-reach brain tumors and other central nervous system disorders, offering safer and more precise therapy options.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-magnetically-driven-solution-personalized-intracranial.html