Biodegradable implantable ultrasound device to help medicines reach the brain
Novel Piezoelectric Amino-acid Ultrasound Transducer to Deliver Drugs Through the Blood Brain Barrier
This project is developing a safe, biodegradable implantable ultrasound device to help drugs get into the brains of people with brain tumors or neurodegenerative diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing a new piezoelectric transducer made from biocompatible amino-acid–based and PLLA materials that can be implanted under the skull to generate ultrasound from inside the head. The device is intended to temporarily open the blood–brain barrier repeatedly so standard or experimental drugs can better reach brain tissue without large external arrays. The team will optimize the device power, size, biodegradability, and ultrasound parameters and test performance and safety in laboratory and animal models before moving toward human use. By avoiding lead-containing materials and obviating later removal surgery, the device aims to reduce risks compared with current implanted transducers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with brain tumors or progressive neurodegenerative conditions who need better drug delivery and are eligible for a minor neurosurgical implant procedure.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not depend on blood–brain barrier drug delivery, who cannot undergo implantation surgery, or who need only systemic treatments may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this device could allow more effective delivery of cancer drugs and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases directly into the brain while reducing invasive procedures.
How similar studies have performed: External focused ultrasound has been shown to open the blood–brain barrier in some clinical studies, but an implanted biodegradable piezoelectric ultrasound transducer is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Thanh — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Thanh
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.