Biomedical engineers have demonstrated the most effective treatment for pancreatic cancer ever recorded in mouse models. The new treatment completely eliminated tumors in 80 percent of mice across several model types, including those considered the most difficult to treat.
The approach combines traditional chemotherapy drugs with a new method for irradiating the tumor. Rather than delivering radiation from an external beam that travels through healthy tissue, the treatment implants radioactive iodine-131 directly into the tumor within a gel-like depot that protects healthy tissue and is absorbed by the body after the radiation fades away.
The researchers used a substance made of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which are synthetic chains of amino acids bonded together to form a gel-like substance with tailored properties. The ELP depot encases the iodine-131 and prevents it from leaking out into the body. The iodine-131 emits beta radiation, which penetrates the biogel and deposits almost all its energy into the tumor without reaching the surrounding tissue. Over time, the ELP depot degrades into its constituent amino acids and is absorbed by the body.
For more information, visit here .
More From SAE Media Group
Medical Design Briefs
Implantable Cancer Traps Could Provide Earlier Diagnosis, Help Monitor Treatment
Medical Design Briefs
Biodegradable Nanoprobe Illuminates Tumors Brightly and Precisely
Medical Design Briefs
Implantable Drug-Delivery System Powered by Light
Medical Design Briefs
Implantable Device Shrinks Pancreatic Tumors
Medical Design Briefs
Miniature Optical Fiber Treatment Device Offers More Effective Cancer Immunotherapy
Tech Briefs
Implantable Stimulator Speeds Tendon Healing
Medical Design Briefs
Minimally Invasive Smart Glaucoma Implants
Medical Design Briefs
Manufacturing Considerations for Implantable Drug-Delivery Systems
Medical Design Briefs
Implantable Device for Diabetes
Medical Design Briefs
New Tech Takes Radiation Out of Cancer Screening
Medical Design Briefs
Soft Implantable Polymer Balloon Enables Controlled and Targeted Drug Delivery
Medical Design Briefs
Implantable Islet Cells Come with Their Own Oxygen Supply
Medical Design Briefs
Videos of the Month
Medical Design Briefs
Novel Radiation Therapy Delays Brain Cancer Regrowth
Medical Design Briefs
MRI Safety Testing: How Device Manufacturers Can Ensure Safety of Patients with Implants
Medical Design Briefs
Implants: Protective Membrane Reduces Tissue Buildup
Medical Design Briefs
Injectable, Flexible Electrode Could Replace Rigid Nerve-Stimulating Implants
Medical Design Briefs
Under-the-Skin Implant Could Treat Type I Diabetes
Medical Design Briefs
Bioelectronic Implant Could Prevent Opioid Deaths
Medical Design Briefs
Smart Brain Stimulators: Next-Generation Parkinson's Disease Therapy
