Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and infiltrative brain cancer with a poor prognosis largely due to its ability to invade surrounding healthy tissue even after surgical resection. A key driver of this invasion is that GBM cells overexpress the CXCR4 and follow CXCL12. Glioblastoma cells shadow chemical cues through the brain. What if there was an implantable, bio- hybrid scaffold placed directly into the cavity left behind after a surgeon excises the primary tumor mass?

My proposal is to utilize electrospinning to fabricate a 3D matrix composed of polycaprolactone, a medical-grade plastic that is biodegradable, breaking down in the body via hydrolysis of its ester bonds into non-toxic byproducts the liver and kidneys can easily filter out. It holds shape for a long duration, and can take anywhere from 1 to 2 years to completely dissolve within the body, keeping the electrospun fiber tracks parallel and straight for months. It is safe and FDA-approved, used in 3D printing, planting human cells onto a PCL framework. It will also incorporate hyaluronic acid, which mimics the native extracellular matrix, serving as biological bait that GBM cells are evolved to seek it out, directing cancer cells' movement into a trap rather than out into the brain. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) are both materials known for low immunogenicity, reducing the risk of a “foreign body” inflammatory response.

Heparin, bearing a strong negative charge, binds CXCL12, acting as a magnet for growth factors and chemokines. Electrostatic sequestration is implemented. CXCL12 is cationic; heparin acts as a tether, preventing systemic toxicity and diffusion into CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).

Then, gold nanorods can absorb near-infrared light (NIR) and convert it into localized heat (photothermal effect), leading to ablation and vaporization of tumor cells while minimizing collateral damage to healthy brain paraenchyma. The brain is soft with a low Young’s Modulus (a measure of stiffness). The PCL nanofibers create a web-like mesh which is viscoelastic, meaning it can bend, stretch and compress in sync with the natural movement of brain tissue, preventing scarring (gliosis) and chronic friction.

The device is essentially a ‘fail-safe’ system because activation is triggered externally via NIR light. If for any reason, the scaffold isn’t ready or safe to activate, the procedure may simply be delayed. The architecture transitions from a highly porous outer perimeter, minimizing signal dissipation, to a high-density inner core that physically traps cells.