MIT develops implantable ultrasound device to improve drug delivery to the brain

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.

Tests show wider distribution in tissue models and mice

The team tested the device in a tissue phantom, a gel-like material designed to mimic some properties of human tissue. Molecules spread farther when ultrasound was activated than when substances were infused without it.

Researchers also tested the system in mice, delivering an MRI contrast agent into the brain. The agent spread farther when the ultrasound array was switched on, suggesting that the approach could improve the distribution of substances delivered locally.

These experiments demonstrate improved molecular distribution under the conditions tested. They do not establish that the device can successfully treat glioblastoma, improve survival or prevent tumour recurrence in people.

Potential applications and remaining hurdles

If further developed, the device could be implanted during surgery, with the drug-delivery channel and ultrasound array placed inside the skull. The researchers envisage positioning some of the battery and electronic components outside the skull.

The technology could potentially be adapted to deliver small-molecule drugs, immunotherapies and nucleic acids, including gene therapies. The team also suggests that the approach may have applications in other soft tissues.

However, the reported work remains at the prototype and preclinical testing stage. Clinical studies would be needed to establish safety, determine how the device performs in human brain tissue and assess whether improved drug distribution translates into better treatment outcomes.

The research was funded by the MIT Media Lab Consortium and the US National Institutes of Health. The findings provide an early technical demonstration of ultrasound-assisted drug delivery, rather than evidence of an approved treatment for brain cancer.