Camptothecin nanofiber gel placed after brain tumor surgery
Official title: Self-Assembling Camptothecin Nanofiber Hydrogels as Adjunct Therapy for Intraoperative Treatment of Malignant Glioma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11178652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is building a drug-releasing gel surgeons could place in the cavity after removing a malignant glioma to kill leftover cancer cells and help patients live longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $529,515 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284268-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future clinical use would be people with malignant gliomas (including glioblastoma) who are undergoing surgical tumor resection.
✕Less likely to help
People whose tumors cannot be removed surgically, who have widely metastatic disease, or who cannot tolerate local chemotherapy may not benefit from this local gel approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing a self-assembling nanofiber hydrogel made from the chemotherapy drug camptothecin that can be applied directly into the cavity left after tumor removal. The gel is intended to spread across nearby brain tissue and slowly release drug over time to reach invasive tumor cells that remain after surgery. The team will test how well the material releases drug, penetrates tissue, and prolongs survival in laboratory and animal models as a step toward human use. The approach builds on the idea of local chemotherapy implants but aims for deeper tissue penetration and longer-lasting drug delivery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower the chance of local tumor regrowth after surgery and extend survival by delivering chemotherapy directly where it's needed.
How similar studies have gone: A related concept—carmustine (Gliadel) wafers placed after brain tumor surgery—has shown modest survival benefit, but this camptothecin nanofiber hydrogel is a novel formulation that has primarily been tested preclinically so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Honggang — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cui, Honggang
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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.