New Nanozyme Maps Brain Tumors and Eradicates Residual Cells

Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Harvard University, and Henan University have developed a nanozyme platform designed to map tumor boundaries during surgery and eliminate microscopic cancer cell clusters afterward. A study published in Science Translational Medicine demonstrated a reduction in recurrence rates in rodent models. Challenges in Glioblastoma Treatment Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer. Treatment is complicated by two primary factors: the infiltration of the tumor into healthy brain tissue, which makes total surgical removal risky, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts the delivery of most drugs and radiation therapies to the site. Currently, the five-year survival rate for these patients is approximately 7%. Dual-Function Mechanism The system utilizes ultra-thin two-dimensional sheets containing platinum atoms, manufactured using techniques adapted from semiconductor production. Both functions of the platform are activated by near-infrared light: