Queen's University: 3D-printed capsule gives researchers a clearer look at glioblastoma

A global-first innovation, developed by a research team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC ) and Queen's University, is changing the way scientists will be able to study glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

Neurosurgeon scientists and assistant professors Dr. James Purzner and Dr. Teresa Purzner, along with Queen's Translational Medicine PhD candidate Kaytlin Andrews, have designed and patented a 3D-printed surgical biopsy capsule – a container used to secure small tissue samples from tumours – with unprecedented precision during surgical procedures.

The innovative capsule addresses a critical challenge in glioblastoma research: obtaining high-quality tissue samples that maintain their cellular integrity for accurate analysis. Traditional biopsy methods often damage delicate brain tissue, compromising research efforts and limiting our understanding of this devastating disease.

The 3D-printed design allows for precise tissue collection while minimizing trauma to surrounding healthy brain tissue. This breakthrough could accelerate research into new treatments for glioblastoma, which currently has a median survival time of just 15 months after diagnosis.

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