Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a gel that can deliver medication directly to brain tumors in mice, potentially paving the way for new treatments for humans with the disease.

The gel, which was developed by a team led by Dr. Jordan Green, a professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins, is injected directly into the site of the brain tumor. Once inside the tumor, the gel slowly releases medication over an extended period of time, ensuring that the drug stays in the tumor for a longer period and reduces the need for repeated injections.

The gel was tested on mice with glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer in humans. The researchers found that the gel was able to deliver medication directly to the site of the tumor, reducing the size of the tumor and prolonging the lives of the mice.

The breakthrough has significant implications for the treatment of brain tumors in humans. At present, medications for brain tumors are often delivered through the bloodstream, which can result in lower concentrations of the drug reaching the tumor site and potential side effects in other parts of the body.

Dr. Green and his team hope that the gel will ultimately be used in clinical trials for humans with brain tumors. If successful, it could provide a more effective and targeted treatment for the disease, improving the prognosis and quality of life for patients.

While the gel is still in the experimental stage, the results of the study are a promising step forward in the fight against brain tumors and could lead to new treatments for patients in the future.