By Fatima Hasan

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an implantable device designed to improve how drugs spread through brain tissue, potentially addressing a major challenge in treating glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour.

Described in a study published in the journal Device on Oct 26, the prototype combines a drug-delivery channel with a miniature ultrasound array. The system, called LUCID, is designed to release substances directly into brain tissue while using ultrasound waves to help them travel farther from the delivery site.

Glioblastoma treatment typically involves surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. However, cancer cells can remain in surrounding tissue after surgery, contributing to recurrence. Delivering drugs to the brain and ensuring they reach a sufficiently large area remain significant challenges.

How the LUCID device works

LUCID stands for Long-term Ultrasound-enhanced Convective Injection Device. Developed by a team led by MIT Associate Professor Canan Dagdeviren, it integrates a 3D-printed drug-delivery cannula with an array of 24 miniature ultrasound transducers.

The device is designed to release drugs gradually from a reservoir, with an osmotic pump providing the infusion. Ultrasound generated near the delivery channel helps molecules spread through surrounding tissue, while the system can be controlled wirelessly.

The reservoir holds approximately 100 microlitres of fluid. The prototype also includes a small rechargeable battery, custom electronics and Bluetooth control for the ultrasound system. The researchers designed it to provide sustained, programmable delivery rather than relying solely on passive diffusion from an implanted drug source.