A gum-like implant for the local treatment of the post-operative glioblastoma

Alessio Malfanti – Associate Professor, University of Padova; Cristiano Pesce – Post Doc, University of Padova; Paolo Caliceti – Full Professor, University of Padova; Stefano Salmaso – Full Professor, University of Padova; Agnese Fragassi – Post Doc, University of Padova; Mariangela Garofalo – Associate Professor, University of Padova; Antonio Nardi – Student, University of Padova

Introduction:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common, and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults¹. The standard of care is based on surgical resection, radiation therapy and oral temozolomide². We rationally design an intra-cavity gum-like implant capable of releasing chemotherapeutics drugs directly at the tumor-site margins, overcoming the blood-brain barrier limitations, reshaping the GBM immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and minimizing systemic drug adverse effects. We wrapped the gum-like implant with a rapidly dissolving external matrix to reach drug burst release (Fig. 1).