Liposomes with MRI contrast agent detect brain tumors earlier: 5 observations

Spine

Hershey-based Penn State College of Medicine researchers developed an MRI contrast agent that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to identify gliomas brain tumors earlier, according to newswise.

The researchers studied mice with cancerous glioma cells. The Journal of Neuro-Oncology published the study.

 

Here are five observations:

 

1. Xiaoli Liu, PhD, and Achuthamangalam Madhankumar, PhD, found liposomes have the capability to pass the blood-brain barrier in mice.

 

2. The liposomes contained a contrast agent, Magnevist, which lit up the cancerous glioma cells.

 

3. The liposomes passed through the blood-brain barriers in the mice without damaging them.

 

4. Cancerous glioma cells are usually detected too late, as MRIs couldn't detect them until they were big enough to damage the brain-blood barrier. By that point, the tumors were usually fatal.

 

5. The next step involves liposomes delivering chemotherapeutic drugs and contrast agents to brain tumor patients.

 

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.