Ultrasound and nanoparticles team up to target brain cancer genes simultaneously
Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed an experimental treatment that uses focused ultrasound, microscopic bubbles, and engineered microRNAs to breach the blood-brain barrier and simultaneously inhibit multiple genes driving glioblastoma growth. The approach enables targeted delivery of genetic therapies to brain tumors in animal models, significantly extending survival. This strategy could overcome longstanding challenges in treating aggressive brain cancers with conventional drugs.
In November 2026, researchers at the University of Virginia Health System, led by Dr. Roger Abounader from the Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for RNA Science and Medicine, reported a novel experimental treatment for glioblastoma using focused ultrasound, microbubbles, and engineered microRNAs. The technique temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier in animal models, enabling targeted delivery of genetic therapies that simultaneously suppress multiple cancer-driving genes. This approach was tested in preclinical studies on glioblastoma, where it significantly slowed tumor growth and extended survival. Glioblastoma remains one of the deadliest brain cancers, with over 13,000 U.S. deaths annually, largely due to its invasive nature and resistance to treatment. The blood-brain barrier has long blocked conventional drugs from reaching tumors, limiting therapeutic options despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Abounader’s team sought to overcome this by using microRNAs—small genetic molecules capable of silencing several oncogenic pathways at once—avoiding the need for multiple toxic drug combinations. The method relies on MRI-guided focused ultrasound combined with intravenously delivered microbubbles that vibrate in response to sound waves, creating transient openings in the barrier. The University of Virginia has a long-standing commitment to focused ultrasound research and co-founded the Focused Ultrasound Immuno-Oncology (FUSION) Center with the Focused Ultr
This development could significantly impact neuro-oncology by offering a new pathway to deliver gene-based therapies directly to brain tumors, potentially transforming care for glioblastoma patients who currently face grim prognoses. If successful in human trials, the approach may reduce reliance on invasive procedures and systemic chemotherapy, lowering side effects while improving treatment precision. The broader implications extend beyond cancer, as similar techniques could be adapted for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where drug delivery to the brain is equally challenging. The FUSION Center’s model—uniting academic research with a dedicated foundation—may serve as a template for other institutions aiming to accelerate translational neuroscience. A comparable precedent is the development of CAR-T cell therapy in blood cancers, which initially faced delivery and safety hurdles before achieving clinical success. However, unlike CAR-T, this ultrasound-base