Nanoparticles to carry brain tumor drugs across the blood–brain barrier

Systemic Delivery of Targeted Bi-Compartmental Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Therapeutics

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11319802

This project aims to use specially designed nanoparticles to deliver cancer medicines into the brains of people with glioblastoma.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-11319802 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

I would hear that researchers are building tiny targeted particles with two parts: one to cross the blood–brain barrier and one to release medicine inside the tumor. They plan to load these particles with drugs that work against STAT3 and other chemotherapies that normally can’t get into the brain. The team will test the particles in laboratory and animal models to see if they reach brain tumors and shrink them. Promising results would support moving toward human clinical trials in the future.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with glioblastoma, especially those whose tumors are resistant to standard surgery, radiation, and temozolomide, would be the likely candidates for future trials.

Not a fit: People without brain tumors or those who cannot receive systemic therapy would not be expected to benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow more effective, less invasive delivery of anti-tumor drugs to brain tumors and may improve tumor control and survival.

How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle methods have shown promise in lab and animal studies, but reliably delivering drugs across the human blood–brain barrier remains largely unproven and this specific bi‑compartmental approach is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.