Northwestern Medicine shared results from a first-in-human clinical trial for a skull-implantable ultrasound device that supports chemotherapy delivery. The device opened the blood-brain barrier to repeatedly permeate large, critical regions of the human brain. This enabled the delivery of chemotherapy injected intravenously. With the patient awake, a four-minute procedure opens the blood-brain barrier and patients […]
Northwestern University
This implantable drug delivery system is self-powered
Researchers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Northwestern University developed technology that uses external light sources to trigger drug delivery. Yamin Zhang and Dr. Colin Franz of Shirley Ryan and John Rogers of Northwestern led the research team. They say their technology represents the first implantable drug delivery system triggered by external light sources. These light […]
Study: Nanomedicine shuts down cells that drive cancer growth in glioblastoma
Researchers from Northwestern Medicine have developed lipid polymer-based nanoparticles that target key cancer drivers, called brain tumor initiating cells, in a mouse model of glioblastoma brain tumors. “BTICs are malignant brain tumor populations that underlie the therapy resistance, recurrence and unstoppable invasion commonly encountered by glioblastoma patients after the standard treatment regimen of surgical resection, […]
Infertility: There could be a 3D printing solution
New Northwestern University research offers a potential 3D printing solution for women’s infertility – providing hope for cancer survivors who want to start families. The Northwestern researchers successfully 3D printed a bioprosthetic mouse ovary that ovulated when implanted inside a live mouse. Mice with the bioprosthetic ovaries were able to give birth to live pups, […]
Ibuprofen delivered via metal-organic framework sports doubled half-life
Researchers at Northwestern University have published data showing that metal-organic frameworks can be used to extend the duration of ibuprofen. The in vivo mouse study was published in Molecular Pharmaceutics. Metal-organic frameworks are made up of metal ions linked to organic ligands. Since MOFs are porous, researchers pack active ingredients inside of them and use them as […]
6 ways hydrogels are enabling medtech innovation
Hydrogels are water-based biomaterials developed specifically for human use, according to a Biomaterials journal article. They are a water-swollen polymeric material that doesn’t change its distinct 3D structure. They are formed from super-absorbent, chain-like polymers and are not soluble in water. However, their porous surface allows for nutrients and cell waste to pass through. They have shown the […]
3D model of female reproductive system could help test drugs for efficacy, safety
In January last year, the National Institutes of Health issued a new requirement for grant funding in basic science: Researchers must discuss how gender as a biological variable will impact their research. Teresa Woodruff, director of the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University, told Drug Delivery Business News that this helped support their effort to develop a model that […]
This new hydrogel can regrow bone in skulls
Researchers in Illinois say they were able to regrow bone to repair a hole in a mouse’s skull. The researchers, based at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, think their work could lead to significant improvement in the care of people with severe skull or face trauma. They say they were able to regenerate skull bone […]
Rewired immune cells respond as targeted cancer therapy
Researchers from Northwestern University have developed a method to rewire immune cells by genetically modifying the cells to sense molecules secreted by tumors and respond by activating the immune system. The team’s work is described in a study published this month in Nature Chemical Biology. Although immunotherapy is growing in popularity among cancer researchers, tumors secrete […]
Researchers develop personalized 3D-printed vascular stents
Researchers from Northwestern University have developed a 3D-printed vascular stent that can be personalized to the patient, the school reported this week. The stents are made of a biodegradable, citric acid-based polymer that researchers could load with drugs to release slowly as the blood vessel wall heals. “Right now, the vast majority of stents are […]
