Overview
- Researchers at Washington University and Northwestern engineered spherical nucleic acids that travel from the nasal passages into the brain and concentrate in tumor‑associated immune cells with minimal systemic spread.
- The nanodrops activated the STING immune pathway; when combined with T‑cell–activating drugs or checkpoint inhibitors, one or two doses eradicated tumors and generated long‑term immunity in mouse models.
- The formulation arranges STING‑agonist DNA densely around a gold nanoparticle core to boost stability and therapeutic potency compared with standard delivery methods.
- The approach reprogrammed the immunologically ‘cold’ glioblastoma microenvironment, improving responsiveness to checkpoint blockade in preclinical tests.
- The findings remain early‑stage and not ready for patients, with the team emphasizing the need for device and formulation optimization, dosing and safety studies, and disclosure of related financial interests by senior investigators.