Investigating 3D – Printed Models for Developing Less Invasive Therapeutic Approaches in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common primary brain tumour in adults, characterized by rapid growth, extensive invasiveness, and poor overall prognosis. Its heterogeneous nature and tendency to infiltrate surrounding brain tissue make accurate diagnosis challenging, often delaying detection until the disease reaches advanced stages. Current treatment options, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, provide limited improvement in patient survival and are frequently associated with significant systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and recurrence. These limitations underscore the urgent need for novel therapeutic agents and innovative drug delivery strategies that can enhance efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. In this study, in vitro assays were performed to evaluate the anti-glioblastoma activity of the in-house synthesized β-amino carbonyl compound SHG-8 delivered through a 3D-printed hydrogel patch system in U87MG glioblastoma cells. The SHG-8-loaded patch demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity and significant inhibition of colony formation indicating anti-proliferative effects against glioblastoma cells. The enhanced therapeutic activity observed with the 3D-printed patch likely reflects the benefits of localized and sustained drug delivery together with hydrogel-mediated modulation of the tumour microenvironment. These findings highlight SHG-8 as a promising therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma and emphasize the importance of delivery strategy in optimizing drug potency. The integration of advanced biomaterials, such as 3D-printed hydrogels, provides a strategy to improve localized drug exposure, reduce systemic toxicity, and potentially overcome limitations of conventional therapies.