Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Bose Institute Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localised cancer treatment.
The advanced hydrogel-based therapy delivers anti-cancer drugs directly to tumour sites and reduces the side effects associated with conventional cancer treatments.
The research findings have been published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s scholarly journal Materials Horizons.
Hydrogels are water-based, three-dimensional polymer networks that can absorb and retain fluids.
Building on their unique structure that mimics living tissues, hydrogels can be used for biomedical applications.
The new hydrogel serves as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs and releases them in a controlled manner, according to specific conditions in the tumour microenvironment.
IIT Guwahati department of chemistry professor Debapratim Das said: “This work exemplifies how scientific innovation can directly address the pressing needs of cancer treatment.
“The hydrogel’s unique properties allow it to work in harmony with the biological environment, offering precision where it is needed most. We are excited by its potential to transform our thoughts about localized drug delivery.”
According to the researchers, cancer is a global health challenge, and current treatments, including chemotherapy and surgical interventions, often have limitations.
Surgical removal is not feasible in some cases, and chemotherapy’s systemic delivery often results in harmful side effects, affecting both cancerous and healthy cells.
To address the challenges, the research team designed a hydrogel that delivers drugs precisely to the tumour site, ensuring localised action.
Composed of ultra-short peptides, the new hydrogel is designed to remain insoluble in biological fluids, ensuring it stays localised at the injection site.
It responds to the increased levels of levels glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant molecule that is abundantly found in tumour cells.
The new hydrogel allows a controlled drug release directly into the tumour when GSH levels are high, minimising its interaction with healthy tissues and reducing systemic side effects.
In preclinical trials, it showed superior efficacy murine model of breast cancer, with a single injection resulting in up to 75% reduction in tumour size within 18 days.
The hydrogel remained localised at the tumour site, gradually releasing the drug over time without triggering detectable side effects on other organs.
In laboratory studies, the hydrogel has been shown to further improve drug uptake by cancer cells, induce cell cycle arrest, and promote programmed cell death.
The researchers said further studies are currently ongoing to explore its effectiveness. They are planning to apply for clinical trials to advance the promising treatment.
