Researchers at Lund University have developed a new electrotherapy approach that targets glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The method uses injectable nanoparticles that self‑assemble into a conductive hydrogel inside the tumor. Once in place, the hydrogel acts as an internal electrode, allowing doctors to deliver localized electrical stimulation directly to cancer cells.
Glioblastoma is notoriously resistant to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, with survival rates remaining very low. By applying electrical fields within the tumor itself, the new technique disrupts cancer cell growth while sparing surrounding brain tissue. The study demonstrates that this strategy can be implemented without invasive implants, relying instead on the tumor‑localized hydrogel to conduct current.
The researchers emphasize that this approach is still in early stages, but it represents a promising complement to existing therapies. If validated in clinical trials, electrotherapy could expand the treatment toolkit for glioblastoma, offering patients a new option against a cancer that has long defied standard care.
Press Release: Electrotherapy offers hope for glioblastoma treatment
Abstract in Nature Communications: Injectable bioresorbable conductive hydrogels for multimodal brain tumor electroimmunotherapy
