The cells lining blood vessels in the brain form tight, tough-to-penetrate junctions that prevent toxic molecules from slipping into the brain.
Unfortunately, this blood-brain barrier also blocks cancer drugs from reaching tumor cells in the brain, creating a significant drug-delivery problem.
Now, preliminary results from a Phase I/II clinical trial suggest that a small implant that emits ultrasound waves can safely open the blood-brain barrier in people, potentially allowing drugs in.
Paper:http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/8/343/343re2
Article:http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ultrasound-implant-safely-opens-blood-brain-barrier/?WT.mc_id=SA_TW_HLTH_NEWS
Image by Cameron Slayden
Corina Marinescu
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