blood-brain barrier
Also written as: BBB — Blood-Brain Barrier
A selective barrier that restricts drug delivery to brain tumors, central to neuro-oncology treatment discussions.
Full Definition
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable membrane barrier that separates circulating blood from the brain and central nervous system. In neuro-oncology contexts, editors frequently encounter discussions about BBB disruption, drug penetration capabilities, and novel delivery methods. Understanding BBB-related terminology is crucial when editing content about chemotherapy efficacy, targeted therapies, and innovative treatment approaches like convection-enhanced delivery or focused ultrasound.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as an adjective; always spell out on first reference before using BBB.
In Context
- "The investigational drug demonstrated limited blood-brain barrier penetration in preclinical studies." — Clinical trial protocol
- "Temozolomide's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier makes it a cornerstone of glioblastoma therapy." — Pharmaceutical review article