Improving glioblastoma treatment with imaging, radiotherapy, drug delivery, and therapeutic systems

Treatments for glioblastoma face challenges related to poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Despite decades of research, the current standard of care, the Stupp protocol, only slightly prolongs the lifespan. This review discusses the potential of emerging medical devices for treating glioblastoma with a focus on medical devices designed to augment existing standard-of-care protocols and those treating tumors directly. This review details the challenges faced by currently available medical devices, such as imaging techniques, radiotherapy devices, drug delivery systems, and therapeutic devices, and the strategies that may help overcome these obstacles. We cover imaging tools, such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, ultrasound techniques, and fluorescence-guided surgery, aimed at improving tumor visualization and surgical precision. Devices such as proton beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy are explored for their potential to deliver higher radiation doses more precisely, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The review highlights innovative drug delivery platforms such as convection-enhanced delivery, catheter implants, drug-eluting materials, bioresorbable electronic patches, and microneedles, which are designed to bypass the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs more effectively to the tumor site. Approaches like tumor-treating fields and laser interstitial thermal therapy are discussed for their ability to kill glioblastoma cells.