Embedding Hyaluronic Acid-Doxorubicin in Hemostatic Paste for the Treatment of Resected Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest primary brain tumor¹. GBM Stem Cells (GSCs) are the main drivers of recurrences and generate an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that renders therapies ineffective². We hypothesize to embed Hyaluronic Acid (HA, 100 kDa)-Doxorubicin (DOX) into an FDA-approved hemostatic paste (paste-HA-DOX) placed in the resected cavity, providing a sustained release of the conjugate and reduced bleeding. HA was selected to target the CD44 receptor, overexpressed on GBM and GSCs, while DOX induces immunogenic cell death overcoming the immunosuppression (Fig 1).