Inside the Labcoat
EPISODE 6
Targeting Brain Tumours with Dual-Trigger Nanoparticles
With Michaela Prado
About the Guest
After studying Chemistry and Nanotechnology Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Michaela was introduced to drug delivery systems and biomaterials through an internship in Dr. Natalie Artzi’s research lab. Following this experience, she is now a PhD candidate in the Harvard–MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, where her research focuses on mRNA technologies for the treatment of various illnesses, including cancer.
Research Areas:
Material Characterization – Polymers – Nanomaterials – Nanoparticle Synthesis – Immunology – Drug Delivery
Key Takeaways:
Glioblastoma is a particularly challenging cancer to treat due to its rapid growth and the blood–brain barrier, which prevents many drugs from reaching the brain at concentrations high enough to destroy tumour cells.
Dual-trigger nanoparticle systems have made drug delivery to the brain more specific by responding to the lower pH and overexpressed enzymes found in the tumour microenvironment, enabling targeted and sustained drug release.
Despite these advances, significant challenges remain in translating these technologies to clinical settings, including differences between animal models and humans, variability between and within tumours, and the need to develop biocompatible and biodegradable materials.
Main Topics Covered: Nanoparticles – Targeted Drug Delivery – Glioblastoma – Stimuli-Responsive Technologies