Glioblastoma is a fast-growing and highly invasive cancer that arises from glial cells in the brain. Even with the current standard of care, surgical removal of as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, outcomes remain poor. Recurrence is common.[1]
Most patients survive only 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.[1]
In South Africa and across Africa, survival is often lower because of delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialist neurosurgical services, and the high cost of advanced treatments.
Beyond the blood-brain barrier
“One of the biggest challenges in treating brain tumours is simply getting the drug to where it needs to be,” noted Michael Gomes, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Gomes, who works with the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), was recently awarded the 2026 South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Institutional Clinician Researcher Development Program scholarship to advance his research into new nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for glioblastoma. As part of his research, Gomes focuses on developing advanced nanoscale drug carriers designed to deliver chemotherapy more effectively to brain tumours.
“The brain is protected by the blood–brain barrier, which blocks many chemotherapy agents from reaching the tumour at effective concentrations,” he explained.
Michael Gomes, a Ph.D. candidate, wins a scholarship to advance his research on advanced, targeted drug-delivery systems for glioblastoma. Photo courtesy: © 2026 University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa/Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP).Drug delivery systems
Gomes’s research compares three nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems: liposomes, polymer-based particles, and polydopamine nanoparticles, to determine which most effectively delivers chemotherapy to brain tumours.
These microscopic carriers are designed to encapsulate cancer drugs and deliver them directly to tumor sites, increasing drug concentration at the tumour while reducing harmful side effects elsewhere in the body.
Liposomes, tiny spherical particles composed of lipid membranes, are already widely used in drug delivery for several diseases. Polymer-based nanoparticles, often made from biodegradable materials such as PLGA, can be engineered to release drugs gradually or in response to specific biological conditions.
Gomes’s research focuses particularly on polydopamine nanoparticles, a less-explored system for brain cancer therapy.
Polydopamine
Polydopamine is a synthetic material inspired by dopamine, a naturally occurring molecule in the brain. Because of its chemical properties and compatibility with biological systems, it may offer a promising platform for targeted drug delivery in neurological diseases.
“Polydopamine hasn’t been widely tested as a carrier for brain cancer drugs,” Gomes explained.
“Since it is derived from a molecule the brain already recognises, we’re investigating whether it can provide a safer, more effective way to deliver chemotherapy,” he further noted.
Glymphatic system
Another innovative aspect of the research is the use of the glymphatic system, a recently discovered network that circulates cerebrospinal fluid through the brain to remove waste and distribute molecules.[2]
The presence of glioblastoma leads to glymphatic dysfunction, with significant clinical implications. Recent studies suggest that the glymphatic system interacts with glioblastoma to influence immunity, drug delivery, fluid regulation, and tumor progression, stressing its significant role in glioblastoma biology and potentially treatment response. [2]
Instead of relying on drugs to travel through the bloodstream and cross the blood–brain barrier, Gomes is studying whether nanoparticles injected into the cerebrospinal fluid can use the glymphatic pathway to reach tumours more directly.
This approach could potentially increase drug concentrations at the tumour site while reducing toxic effects in the rest of the body.
A piece of a bigger puzzle
“This research is one piece of a bigger puzzle. We work closely with neurosurgeons to understand tumour tissue, build realistic laboratory models, and then test new drug delivery systems in ways that reflect what actually happens in patients,” noted Divesha Essa, M.D., who supervises Gomes’s work.
“At WADDP, the goal is always to bridge the gap between the clinic and the laboratory, with patients at the centre of everything we do,” she added.
Professor Yahya Choonara, MD, Ph.D., director of Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), noted that the award reflects the importance of investing in postgraduate and early-career researchers.
“Programmes like this create the space for talented students to pursue advanced research while remaining connected to clinical practice. That combination is essential if we are to develop innovative therapies that are relevant to our patients and health systems.”
“It’s an opportunity to contribute to new approaches that could one day improve outcomes for patients with glioblastoma,” concluded Gomes, who confirmed that the scholarship allows him to continue both with clinical training and research.
Reference
[1] Tykocki T, Eltayeb M. Ten-year survival in glioblastoma. A systematic review. J Clin Neurosci. 2018 Aug;54:7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.05.002. Epub 2018 May 23. PMID: 29801989.
[2] Soumbasis A, Ueno A, Elliott D, Lama S, Edwards S, Starreveld YP, Zhang Y, Federico P, Sutherland GR, LeVan P, Poon CC. The glymphatic system and glioblastoma. Brain. 2025 Nov 28:awaf449. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaf449. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41310975.
Featured image licensed under the Unsplash+ License.
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