(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) HYDROGELS FOR CANCER TREATMENT

(FEBRUARY-2025)

HYDROGELS FOR CANCER TREATMENT

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) and the Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localised cancer treatment.]

About the Developed Hydrogel

The hydrogel serves as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs, releasing it in a controlled manner while sparing healthy cells from harm.
Current treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgical interventions, often have severe limitations. Surgical removal of tumours is sometimes not feasible, particularly for internal organs.

Chemotherapy’s systemic delivery often results in harmful side effects by affecting both cancerous and healthy cells.
The researchers addressed these challenges by designing a hydrogel that delivers drugs precisely to the tumour site, ensuring localised action.

Working of the Hydrogel

The hydrogel responds to elevated glutathione (GSH) levels, a molecule abundant in tumour cells.
Upon encountering high GSH levels, the hydrogel triggers a controlled drug release directly into the tumour, minimising its interaction with healthy tissues and reducing systemic side effects.

Results

The hydrogel showcased remarkable efficacy in preclinical trials on a murine model of breast cancer.
A single injection of the hydrogel, loaded with the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin, resulted in a 75% reduction in the tumour size within 18 days.
Crucially, the hydrogel remained localised at the tumour site, steadily releasing the drug over time without causing detectable side effects on other organs.

Hydrogels

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains with three-dimensional (3D) network structures, which can absorb relatively large amounts of fluid. Because of the high water content, soft structure, and porosity of hydrogels, they closely resemble living tissues.