Host Institution:
Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM)
Supervisor:
Nur Mustafaoğlu, PhD
Co-Supervisor:
Sinan Güven, PhD
Project Name:
Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Novel In Vitro Approach Using DrugLoaded Nanobubbles and Focused Ultrasound for Glioblastoma Therapy
Project Summary:
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most prevalent and aggressive primary
brain tumor in adults, presenting significant therapeutic challenges due to its invasive nature
and resistance to conventional treatments. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) further
complicates treatment by restricting the entry of most chemotherapeutic agents. This
project explores the potential of using nanobubbles (NBs) and focused ultrasound (FUS) to
enhance drug delivery to GBM. NBs, due to their nanoscale size, drug encapsulation
capacity, and stability, offer a promising platform for targeted drug delivery. FUS, a noninvasive technique, can induce cavitation of NBs, temporarily and reversibly opening the
BBB to facilitate increased drug penetration at targeted brain sites. This project will address
the limitations of current GBM treatments by leveraging the synergistic effects of NBs and
FUS, potentially leading to significant improvements in drug delivery and therapeutic
outcomes.