Hydrogel for Cancer Treatment

Utilizing a hydrogel drug carrier enables the targeted delivery of drugs to tumor sites, resulting in prolonged effectiveness and reduced side effects compared to systemic chemotherapy. Matexcel has acquired expertise in employing hydrogel techniques and platforms for cancer treatment. In the following section, we will provide a concise overview of the utilization of hydrogels in cancer treatment.

Introduction to Cancer Treatment

Cancer has always been one of the deadliest diseases. Possible treatment strategies include chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy. Chemotherapy remains the primary approach for treating cancer; however, its clinical application is consistently impeded by challenges such as lack of specificity, adverse effects, and resistance to multiple drugs. As a result, there is extensive research being conducted on localized drug delivery systems like hydrogels, micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, and electrospun fibers. These investigations aim to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and minimize toxicity in normal tissues.

Utilization of Hydrogel for Cancer Treatment

According to their composition, hydrogels can be classified into three categories, macroscopic gels, microgels (0.5-10 μm), and nanogels (<200 nm). The diverse sizes and structures of hydrogels dictate their distinct functionalities and routes for delivering cancer treatment.

Fig. 1 Multiscale hydrogels and their delivery routes. (Zhaoyi Sun, et al., 2020)

• Macroscopic Gels
  Macroscopic gels are gels larger than millimeters in size and are commonly utilized for transdermal administration or direct injection/implantation around tumor tissue. The majority of macroscopic gels employed in cancer treatment are locally administered. In comparison to systemic administration, in situ administration can mitigate the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs toward normal tissues and enhance treatment efficacy. The presence of hydrogels facilitates the sustained release of chemotherapy drugs in situ, thereby enhancing drug solubility and selectivity while reducing the overall dosage.

Fig. 2 The in situ injection of an antitumor, controlled release hydrogel. (Kim, D. Y, et al., 2020)

• Microgels
  Microgels are hydrogels with a size ranging from approximately 0.5 to 10 μm. In comparison to macroscopic hydrogels, hydrogels within this size range possess a larger surface area, rendering them more suitable for bioconjugation purposes. Microgel delivery routes for cancer treatment typically encompass oral administration, pulmonary delivery, or arterial chemoembolization targeting tumors located in specific organs.

Fig. 3 The principles of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). (Lewis, A. L, et al., 2012)

• Nanogels
  According to the study findings, nanogels are defined as gel nanoparticles with a size below 200 nm. The nanoscale dimensions ensure tumor-specific targeting through enhanced permeability and retention effects (EPR), facilitate intracellular drug delivery via endocytosis, and enable penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Additionally, the small size allows for efficient intravenous administration and high drug loading capacity due to the large surface area of nanogels. Local injections also present a favorable option for nanogels as they exhibit superior tumor tissue permeability and responsiveness to environmental stimuli.

Fig. 4 Stimuli-responsive drug-loading hydrogel systems. (Zhaoyi Sun, et al., 2020)

The Hydrogel Development Services We Provide 

With professional equipment and experienced specialists, Matexcel provides high-quality hydrogel analysis and characterization services, hydrogel size and morphology analysis, hydrogel biocompatibility testing and hydrogel toxicity measurement. Please contact us for more information.

References

1. Sun Z.; et al. Hydrogel-Based Controlled Drug Delivery for Cancer Treatment: A Review. Mol Pharm. 2020;17(2):373-391.
2. Kim DY.; et al. Synergistic anti-tumor activity through combinational intratumoral injection of an in-situ injectable drug depot. Biomaterials. 2016;85:232-245.
3. Lewis AL., Dreher MR. Locoregional drug delivery using image-guided intra-arterial drug eluting bead therapy. J Control Release. 2012;161(2):338-350.