Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new medical implant called LUCID. The device helps prevent the recurrence of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, by delivering drugs directly to the target tissue. The findings were published in the scientific journal Device.<\/p>\n
In glioblastoma, surgeons cannot remove all tumor cells, which is why the disease often returns. Patients survive an average of 12\u201315 months after diagnosis. MIT\u2019s new system addresses this problem through localized therapy: during surgery, doctors place a flexible implant, about as thick as a sheet of cardboard, inside the skull. Over time, it helps destroy the remaining tumor cells.<\/p>\n
LUCID combines a 100-microliter reservoir, a 3D-printed microtube, and 24 miniature ultrasound transducers. An osmotic pump gradually delivers the drug into the tissue, while ultrasound waves temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing drug molecules to reach deeper regions of the brain. Doctors control the process wirelessly via Bluetooth and can program the dosage remotely. The implant\u2019s battery can also be charged wirelessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur system helps the drug cross the blood-brain barrier and enhances infusion. The device allows doctors to determine the volume, duration, and frequency of the infusion themselves,\u201d explains the study\u2019s senior author, MIT Associate Professor Canan Dagdeviren.<\/p>\n
Tests conducted in mice and tissue models confirmed that ultrasound allows the drug to travel much farther through the brain than standard passive diffusion. According to study co-author Sarah Ornelas, localized and programmable drug delivery reduces the toxic effects of chemotherapy on other organs and increases the likelihood of destroying target cells.<\/p>\n
The researchers believe that LUCID technology could eventually be used in immunotherapy and gene therapy, as well as to facilitate the treatment of other soft tissues beyond the brain.<\/p>\n