IIT Guwahati and Bose Institute Kolkata Develop Advanced Injectable Hydrogel for Targeted Cancer Treatment
In a groundbreaking multi-institutional research collaboration led by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) and Bose Institute Kolkata, scientists have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel designed for localized cancer treatment. This innovative therapy offers a targeted approach to delivering anti-cancer drugs directly to tumor sites, significantly reducing the side effects typically associated with conventional treatments.
The findings of the research, which were published in Materials Horizons, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, introduce a hydrogel-based delivery system that ensures precise drug release at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity. The research paper was co-authored by Prof. Debapratim Das, along with his research scholars Tanushree Das and Ritvika Kushwaha from IIT-G, and collaborators Dr. Kuldip Jana, Satyajit Halder, and Anup Kumar Misra from Bose Institute Kolkata.
Prof. Debapratim Das, from IIT-G’s Department of Chemistry, and his team tackled the challenge of localized drug delivery by designing a hydrogel capable of releasing anti-cancer drugs in a controlled manner, triggered by the unique environment within the tumor.
Hydrogels are water-based, three-dimensional polymer networks capable of absorbing and retaining fluids, making them ideal for biomedical applications. The newly developed hydrogel serves as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs, releasing them in response to elevated glutathione (GSH) levels, a molecule abundant in tumor cells. This targeted response ensures that the drugs act specifically on the tumor, reducing the risk of affecting healthy tissues and limiting side effects.
The hydrogel, composed of ultra-short peptides—biocompatible and biodegradable building blocks of proteins—is designed to remain insoluble in biological fluids, ensuring its localization at the injection site. Upon encountering high GSH levels, the hydrogel triggers a controlled drug release directly into the tumor.
In preclinical trials on a murine model of breast cancer, the hydrogel demonstrated significant efficacy. A single injection, loaded with the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin, resulted in a 75% reduction in tumor size within just 18 days. The hydrogel effectively localized at the tumor site and steadily released the drug over time, with no detectable side effects on other organs.
This innovative delivery system enhances the drug’s effectiveness while minimizing the required dosage, thereby reducing toxicity. Laboratory studies further revealed that the hydrogel improves drug uptake by cancer cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes programmed cell death, providing a multi-pronged attack on the tumor.
Prof. Debapratim Das expressed excitement about the breakthrough, stating, “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 approach to localized drug delivery.”
With the promising results from preclinical trials, this novel hydrogel-based therapy offers significant potential in advancing cancer treatment and reducing the harmful side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. Researchers are hopeful that further studies and clinical trials will pave the way for this technology to be used in clinical settings in the near future.
Research Link (Materials Horizons):-
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/tb/d3tb00450c/unauth
Source of Information: https://indiamedtoday.com/iit-guwahati-researchers-develop-injectable-hydrogel-for-targeted-breast-cancer-therapy/
