Glioblastoma Margin as a Diffusion Barrier Revealed by Photoactivation of Plasmonic Nanovesicles
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most complex and lethal primary brain cancer. Adequate drug diffusion and penetration are essential for treating GBM, but how the spatial heterogeneity in GBM impacts drug diffusion and transport is poorly understood. Herein, we report a new method, photoactivation of plasmonic nanovesicles (PANO), to measure molecular diffusion in the extracellular space of GBM. By examining three genetically engineered GBM mouse models that recapitulate key clinical features including the angiogenic core and diffuse infiltration, we found that the tumor margin has the lowest diffusion coefficient (highest tortuosity) compared with the tumor core and surrounding brain tissue. Analysis of the cellular composition shows that tortuosity in the GBM is strongly correlated with neuronal loss and astrocyte activation. Our all-optical measurement reveals the heterogeneous GBM microenvironment and highlights the tumor margin as a diffusion barrier for drug transport in the brain, with implications for therapeutic delivery.
Source: Nano Letters
Authors: Hejian Xiong, Blake A. Wilson, Xiaoqian Ge, Xiaofei Gao, Qi Cai, Xueqi Xu, Robert Bachoo, Zhenpeng Qin
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G2737592121, Investigating Brain Tumor Drug Delivery by Optical Modulation of Blood-Brain Barrier Using Plasmonic Nanobubbles, G563546981, Development of new photo-releasable neuropeptide nano-vesicles for studying modulation in the brain, Collaborative Research: NCS-FR: Understanding the neuropeptide modulation of brain circuits by advanced nanomaterials and imaging
OpenAlex ID: W4391360035