Professors Geon Na and Shinsoo Jeon Collaborate with NBR Co., Ltd. to Develop a Photoimmuno-Nanoplatform That Enhances Glioblastoma Treatment Efficacy

The Catholic University of Korea Research Team Presents a Next-Generation Strategy for Glioblastoma Treatment in Advanced Healthcare Materials

A collaborative research team from The Catholic University of Korea—comprising Professor Geon Na (Department of Biomedical Chemical Engineering) and Professor Shinsoo Jeon (Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital)—along with NBR Co., Ltd., has developed a novel cancer immunotherapy platform offering a new therapeutic pathway for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors.

Glioblastoma is a solid tumor characterized by extremely high therapeutic resistance, a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%, and a recurrence rate exceeding 90%. Due to its immunologically “cold tumor” microenvironment—marked by poor infiltration of immune cells and dominance of immunosuppressive cells—treatments using immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-L1 antibodies, have shown limited efficacy.

To overcome these limitations, the research team designed a new photoimmuno-nanoplatform that combines an FDA-approved polymer-based targeted photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. This platform generates reactive oxygen species (¹O₂) under light stimulation to kill tumor cells while simultaneously activating immune cells, effectively converting the tumor microenvironment from cold to hot, thereby enhancing responsiveness to immunotherapy.

The study was conducted using an orthotopic mouse model in which glioblastoma cells were injected into the brains of mice to mimic human glioblastoma. The experimental group that received the photoimmuno-nanoplatform demonstrated complete survival (100%), increased immune cell activation, and no signs of recurrence. These results represent a significant advancement in eliciting robust immune responses unattainable with immune checkpoint inhibitors alone.

The research findings were published on May 21 in the prestigious international journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, recognized for its authority in the field of biomaterials.

Lead author Professor Geon Na stated,

“This study proposes a novel approach to treating solid tumors with strong immune evasion characteristics. It presents a next-generation photoimmunotherapy technology with high scalability and potential for clinical translation across various types of solid cancers.”