Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41935136›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

Quantitative comparison of methods for widespread delivery of small molecules across the blood-brain barrier.

Miranda Dawson, Sarah Bricault, Peter Harvey, Agata Wisniowska, He Wei, Xun Wang, Gracia García-García, Takashi Kaise, Roger D Kamm, Alan Jasanoff

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Miranda Dawson *Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3226-9122
Sarah Bricault *Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0832-7855
Peter Harvey *Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Agata WisniowskaHarvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
He WeiDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7188-8105
Xun WangDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6363-4225
Gracia García-GarcíaDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Takashi KaiseDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Roger D KammDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7232-304X
Alan JasanoffDepartment of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. jasanoff@mit.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2834-6359

Funding

Toward functional molecular neuroimaging using vasoactive probes in human subjectsU01EB031641 · NIBIB · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI JASANOFF, ALAN · 2021 to 2025
$2.9M
Analysis of Integrated Brain Functions Using Hemogenetic ImagingR01NS121073 · NINDS · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI Alan Jasanoff · 2022 to 2026
$2.6M
Supplement to Neurobiological Engineering Training ProgramT32EB019940 · NIBIB · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI JASANOFF, ALAN · 2015 to 2025
$1.4M
Analyzing brain-wide bases of neuroplastic change using new imaging toolsR01DA062195 · NIDA · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI Alan Jasanoff · 2025 to 2026
$1.2M
NIBIB NIH HHS T32 EB019940NIBIB NIH HHS U01 EB031641NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA062195NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS121073
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Achieving widespread delivery of pharmacological agents beyond the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a formidable challenge in preclinical and clinical research. Here we quantitatively evaluate and compare three strategies for brain-wide delivery that employ transient BBB disruption or infusion via the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in rats. Using molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, we find that the three techniques produce spatially differentiated labeling patterns, with the most homogeneous delivery produced either using chemically mediated or unfocused ultrasound-based BBB manipulation methods. Contrast enhancement distributions are similar following chemical and ultrasound procedures, but differ notably from the results of intra-CSF infusion. Delivery efficiency using the two BBB disruption methods also correlates inversely with a marker of tight junction density, suggesting that common factors determine susceptibility to these techniques. Our study thus documents the spatial variation of BBB properties across the brain while offering guidance about brain-wide application of molecular technologies in neuroscience and neuromedicine.

Indexed as

Blood-Brain BarrierDrug Delivery SystemsAnimalsBrainMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleRatsRats, Sprague-Dawley

Identifiers

PMID41935136
PMCPMC13230606

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.