Nose-delivered glowing marker to guide brain tumor surgery
Official title: Polymeric Micelles for Targeted Delivery of Contrast Agents Through the Nose-to-Brain Route in Image-Guided Brain Cancer Surgery
Funded at St. John's University · NIH-11138754 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing a nose-delivered fluorescent agent that lights up brain tumors so surgeons can see and remove them more accurately in adults with brain cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. John's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Queens, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $187,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154661-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138754 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) with brain tumors who are scheduled for surgical resection and able to receive intranasal treatments would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people not having surgery, or patients who cannot receive intranasal medications or whose tumors do not take up the agent may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
As a patient facing brain tumor surgery, you might get a nose-spray of tiny particles that carry a dye and stay dark until they reach tumor tissue, where they light up under special imaging. The team will design polymeric micelles that hold a near-infrared dye in an 'off' state and switch 'on' when they release at tumor sites. They plan to give the agent through the nose so it can reach the brain and provide real-time optical guidance during surgery. First they will make and characterize the micelles in the lab, then test whether intranasal delivery gives clear images useful to surgeons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help surgeons remove more tumor while avoiding healthy brain tissue, potentially improving outcomes and reducing complications.
How similar studies have gone: Other fluorescence-guided surgery agents like 5-ALA and ICG have improved tumor visualization, but using intranasal polymeric micelles with an on/off near-infrared switch is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
St. John's University
Queens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Hyunah — St. John's University
- Study coordinator: Cho, Hyunah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social connections and quality of life for kids who survived brain cancer
This project follows pediatric brain cancer survivors as they grow into adults to understand how their social connections affect their happiness and mental well-being.
-
Brain cancer and brain-glia communication: how tumor cells and microglia talk to each other to drive gbm growth
A patient-facing look at how GBM tumors may manipulate brain immune cells to grow, and how understanding this communication could lead to new treatments.
-
Clarified imaging reports to reduce anxiety for adult survivors of pediatric brain cancer
Adult survivors of pediatric brain cancer may get anxious about scan results, and clearer imaging reports delivered through patient portals could help reduce worry and improve understanding.
-
MRI-guided brain tumor surgery robot to improve laser ablation
A new MRI-compatible robotic system helps precise, real-time laser treatment for brain tumors inside the MRI suite.
-
Brain cancer therapies to help kids and adults with glioblastoma and medulloblastoma
A large NIH grant supports translating promising brain cancer therapies from the lab into patient trials to help people with glioblastoma and medulloblastoma.
-
Brain cancer: Translational approaches to improve outcomes for glioblastoma patients
A team at Northwestern is working on better ways to treat glioblastoma, the deadliest brain cancer, with a focus on translating discoveries into real therapies.
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.