A new system to deliver medicine and imaging agents directly to brain tumors
A “STICK” theranostic nanoplatform for image-guided drug delivery to brain malignancies
This project is creating a special delivery system to get medicines and imaging agents past the brain's protective barriers and directly into brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139384 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Brain cancers are very hard to treat because a natural barrier protects the brain from many medicines. This project is developing tiny particles, called STICK nanoparticles, designed to sneak past this barrier. These particles are also engineered to stay stable in the blood and specifically target tumor cells, avoiding healthy tissue. The goal is to deliver both imaging agents to see the tumor better and powerful drugs directly where they are needed most. This approach aims to make treatments more effective and reduce side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with brain malignancies or other neurological disorders that are difficult to treat due to drug delivery challenges could potentially benefit from future therapies developed using this platform.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve brain malignancies or neurological disorders requiring specialized drug delivery to the brain would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new delivery system could significantly improve how medicines reach brain tumors, leading to more effective treatments and better outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of nanotechnology for drug delivery is explored, this specific "STICK" platform with boronate crosslinkages represents a novel approach to overcome multiple physiological barriers simultaneously.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yuanpei — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Li, Yuanpei
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.