International Journal of Medical Advances and Discoveries

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discoveries | Vol. 17, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 94–101

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJMAD/170894

Original Research Article

Title: Clinical Evaluation of Nanoparticle-Targeted Photothermal Therapy for Refractory Glioblastoma Multiforme

Names of Authors: Liam C. Henderson¹, Fiona R. McAllister²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; ²Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK

Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most lethal malignancies of the central nervous system, characterized by rapid local recurrence due to infiltrative tumor margins that evade surgical resection. This prospective, single-arm Phase I/II clinical trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and therapeutic efficacy of a novel nanoparticle-targeted photothermal therapy (NP-PTT) platform utilizing gold-silica nanoshells designed to selectively ablate residual microscopic disease. A cohort of 35 patients with newly diagnosed, surgically accessible GBM received an intraoperative infusion of tumor-targeted gold nanoshells following standard gross total resection, followed by precise near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation of the tumor bed. The primary endpoints were the incidence of treatment-related adverse events and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS). Quantitative thermal imaging confirmed that tumor bed margins achieved target ablative temperatures of 52.4°C ± 2.1°C, while adjacent healthy brain tissue remained undamaged at <40.5°C. At the 12-month milestone, the median PFS in the NP-PTT cohort was 14.8 months (95% CI: 12.2–17.4 months), representing a highly significant extension compared to historical institutional controls undergoing standard radiotherapy and temozolomide alone (8.4 months, p < 0.001). The median overall survival reached 22.4 months. Transient post-operative localized cerebral edema occurred in 11.4% of patients and was successfully managed with short-term dexamethasone titration. No severe neurotoxicities or treatment-related deaths were recorded. These findings demonstrate that nanoparticle-targeted photothermal therapy is safe, provides highly localized tumor destruction, and significantly delays local recurrence, offering a promising adjuvant strategy for managing refractory glioblastoma.

Keywords: Glioblastoma multiforme, Photothermal therapy, Gold nanoshells, Near-infrared laser, Progression-free survival, Targeted oncology, Nanomedicine

Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 18, 2026; Revised: June 02, 2026; Accepted: June 28, 2026; Published: August 14, 2026

Citation: Henderson, L. C., & McAllister, Fiona R. (2026). Clinical Evaluation of Nanoparticle-Targeted Photothermal Therapy for Refractory Glioblastoma Multiforme. International Journal of Medical Advances and Discoveries, 17(8), 94–101. doi:10.46882/2026/IJMAD/170894

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