BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER

Jun 03 2025HEALTH

Targeted Hope: Fighting Childhood Brain Tumors

SHH medulloblastoma is a serious type of brain tumor that affects kids. The usual way to fight it is with surgery, chemo, and radiation. These treatments can be tough on young bodies and minds, causing long-term problems. So, scientists are looking for better, more precise ways to tackle this disease. One promising approach is using immunotoxins. These are like smart...

reading time about 2 minutes
Jan 21 2025HEALTH

Old Antibiotic Gets New Life in Fighting Brain Tumors

For years, brain cancer treatment has heavily relied on drugs like temozolomide. However, the blood-brain barrier, which acts like a bodyguard for the brain, has been a tough nut to crack. But now, scientists have given an old antibiotic called linezolid a fresh lease on life. They've tweaked it by combining it with other molecules, creating a new compound that can s...

reading time about 1 minute
Jan 17 2025HEALTH

Brain Cancer: A New Smart Robot Treatment

Brain tumors, especially a type called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are tough to beat. Current treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy only give patients about 15 months to live on average. Scientists are now testing a new approach using tiny robots called nanorobots to fight GBM. These robots are coated with bits of two types of cells - platelets and ...

reading time less than a minute
Jan 10 2025HEALTH

Brain Tumors and Leaky Blood Vessels: A New Way to Spot Them?

Brain tumors can mess up the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is like a protective fence around blood vessels in the brain. Currently, doctors rely on their eyes and a special brain scan called DSC MRI to see if the BBB is damaged. However, this method might miss subtle issues and can't be used on people with kidney problems. A new technique called multi-echo arteria...

reading time about 1 minute
Dec 30 2024HEALTH

Nanoparticles: A New Hope Against Brain Tumors

Brain tumors, especially those that metastasize or develop as glioblastomas, are some of the most dangerous and fast-growing cancers. Patients usually don't live more than a year after diagnosis. One big issue is getting medicine to the brain. The blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances, makes it hard for drugs to reach the tumor. But sc...

reading time less than a minute
Dec 13 2024SCIENCE

How Peripheral Signals Affect the Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB)—a vital structure made up of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons—plays a crucial role in protecting the brain. It's like a bouncer at a club, ensuring only the right stuff gets in and the wrong stuff stays out. But this barrier isn't static; it's constantly challenged by factors from within and outside the bo...

reading time about 1 minute
Dec 03 2024HEALTH

Ultrasound: The Secret to Better Brain Treatments

Brain disorders are tough to treat. One big reason is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It's like a security guard that keeps many medicines out of the brain. So, conventional treatments aren't always effective. But, there's a new approach that's making waves. It uses focused ultrasound (FUS) to temporarily open the BBB. This lets more drugs into the brain, making treat...

reading time about 1 minute