A team of researchers from the BIST Community centre ICN2, the UAB and Bellvitge University Hospital has developed an adhesive membrane capable of killing up to 90% of cancer cells in laboratory models of glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain tumour. The findings, published in Advanced Science, pave the way for future studies in patients to assess its potential use in clinical practice.
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumour and is also one of the most difficult to treat. Even when standard therapies combine surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, relapses are very frequent. This is due to several factors, including the infiltration of tumour cells in the healthy brain tissue, making it extremely difficult to remove them all.
Furthermore, many potential treatments are ineffective for this type of tumour because they cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain.
In this context, scientists from ICN2, the Institute of Neurosciences of the UAB (INc-UAB) and Bellvitge University Hospital have developed an innovative, nature-inspired strategy to tackle glioblastoma. Their approach is based on bioadhesive membranes that mimic the way mussels attach themselves to rocks in the sea. These membranes are placed directly onto the brain after surgery.
Thanks to their chemical properties, they can kill tumour cells remaining in the tissue that could otherwise cause relapse. The scientific team comprised researchers from the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group—Dr Salvio Suárez, Sara Pugliese, Dr José Bolaños and CSIC Prof. Daniel Ruiz Molina—in collaboration with Prof. Víctor Yuste (INc-UAB) and Prof. Jordi Bruna (IDIBELL).
The study, published in the journal Advanced Science, demonstrates that the membrane effectively adheres to brain tissue, is flexible and biocompatible, and exhibits a potent anti-tumour activity. One of its key components is catechin, a natural polyphenol found in plants and many foods. In cell and tissue models, the material eliminated between 80 and 90% of glioblastoma cells and significantly reduced their ability to migrate and invade other areas of the brain.
As Dr Salvio Suárez explains, “The key to these results is that the membrane can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) — highly reactive and oxidative molecules that cause precise and selective damage to tumour cells.”
Although tumour cells naturally produce ROS, which help to promote their growth, the addition of higher amounts leads to an oxidative imbalance that causes the death of cancer cells. The material also has antimicrobial properties that help to reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
A collaborative project where biology, nanoscience and medicine meet
This research is part of the BioMem4GB project, an initiative led by ICN2 in collaboration with INc-UAB and Bellvitge University Hospital. The project’s goal is to develop bioinspired ‘patches’ for glioblastoma treatment that kill cancer cells and support the regeneration of healthy brain tissue. The project aims to produce technology that is easy, low-cost and scalable.
Future objectives include validation in advanced models and designing clinical trials in patients, which will bring this technology closer to real-world medical use.
Schematic overview of the experimental process, from glioblastoma (GBM) resection to membrane-induced cell death.
Reference article:
Bolaños-Cardet, J; Pugliese, S; Bruna, J; Ruiz-Molina, D; Suárez-García, S; Yuste, VJ. A Mussel-Inspired Bioadhesive Patch to Selectively Kill Glioblastoma Cells. Advanced Science. (2026). doi.org/10.1002/advs.202510658
