Multifunctional Hybrid Hydrogel Enhanced Antitumor Therapy through Multiple Destroying DNA Functions by a Triple-Combination Synergistic Therapy

A Metformin-Based Multifunctional Nanoplatform as a DNA Damage Amplifier for Maximized Radio-Immunotherapy to Overcome Radiotherapy Resistance

Radiotherapy (RT) has been highlighted to be an effective strategy for antitumor immunity activation by causing direct DNA damages, but it generally suffers from low response rates due to the compromised cytosolic DNA (cDNA) recognition by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). Simultaneous DNA repair and clearance system regulation for enhanced cDNA accumulation is a useful approach to improve immune response rates, which remains seldom reported to our knowledge. Here, we report the construction of a metformin (MET)-based multifunctional nanocomplex, CS-MET/siTREX1 (CSMT), consisting of biguanide-decorated CS (CS-MET) as the vector and 3'-5' DNA exonuclease TREX1 siRNA (siTREX1) as the therapeutic gene for RT-induced antitumor immunity enhancement by amplifying the initial DNA damage signals. The uniqueness of this study is the development of CSMT as a specific DNA damage amplifier to promote cDNA accumulation for maximizing radio-immunotherapy and circumventing RT resistance. Specifically, the CSMT nanocomplexes show not only enhanced gene transfection efficiency by MET modification but also synergistic therapeutic effects including MET's inhibition on DNA repair and siTREX1's attenuation on cDNA clearance, which leads to the greatest inhibitory effect in a Hepa1-6 proximal/distal tumor model with a high tumor growth inhibition (TGI) value of 99.1% for the primary tumor and significantly compromised distal tumor growth by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), promoting tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) polarization, and stimulating tumor-specific memory T-cell generation. Overall, the CSMT nanocomplexes developed herein hold great translatable promises for overcoming RT resistance in clinics.

Injectable 2D-MoS2-integrated Bioadhesive Hydrogel as Photothermal-Derived and Drug-Delivery Implant for Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) combined with chemotherapy using hydrogel as a delivery platform is considered a promising strategy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, maintaining the stability of photo-absorbing agents (PTA) in the hydrogel and ensuring that the hydrogel remains anchored to the tumor tissue presents significant challenges. Herein, this work introduces an injectable 2D molybdenum disulfide (2D-MoS2)-integrated adhesive hydrogel, specifically N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxy-5-nitro-sophenoxy) butanamide-linked sodium alginate-MoS2-5-fluorouracil (AlgNB/MoS2/5-FU). This hydrogel functions as a near-infrared light (NIR)-triggered photothermal and drug-delivery implant for CRC treatment. The MoS2 nanosheets maintain superior dispersibility in the hydrogel and exhibit a highly efficient NIR-triggered photothermal effect. Importantly, the aldehyde group in AlgNB also imparted tissue adhesion to the hydrogel, the adhesive hydrogel is used to infiltrate and anchor within tumor tissue. The injectable adhesive AlgNB/MoS2/5-FU hydrogel shows remarkable efficacy in inhibiting SW480 cells proliferation and promoting colorectal tumor regression by triggering PTT and delivering the 5-FU drug in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The potential synergistic mechanism of PTT and 5-FU chemotherapy may contribute to inhibiting DNA repair and enhancing a robust immune response. Therefore, this research provides valuable strategic insights for the synergistic treatment of localized CRC.

Hydrogels and Microgels: Driving Revolutionary Innovations in Targeted Drug Delivery, Strengthening Infection Management, and Advancing Tissue Repair and Regeneration

Hydrogels and microgels are emerging as pivotal platforms in biomedicine, with significant potential in targeted drug delivery, enhanced infection management, and tissue repair and regeneration. These gels, characterized by their high water content, unique structures, and adaptable mechanical properties, interact seamlessly with biological systems, making them invaluable for controlled and targeted drug release. In the realm of infection management, hydrogels and microgels can incorporate antimicrobial agents, offering robust defenses against bacterial infections. This capability is increasingly important in the fight against antibiotic resistance, providing innovative solutions for infection prevention in wound dressings, surgical implants, and medical devices. Additionally, the biocompatibility and customizable mechanical properties of these gels make them ideal scaffolds for tissue engineering, supporting the growth and repair of damaged tissues. Despite their promising applications, challenges such as ensuring long-term stability, enhancing therapeutic agent loading capacities, and scaling production must be addressed for widespread adoption. This review explores the current advancements, opportunities, and limitations of hydrogels and microgels, highlighting research and technological directions poised to revolutionize treatment strategies through personalized and regenerative approaches.

Biomimetic Nanosensitizer Potentiates Efficient Glioblastoma Gene-Radiotherapy through Synergistic Hypoxia Mitigation and PLK1 Silencing

Postoperative radiotherapy currently stands as the cornerstone of glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Nevertheless, low-dose radiotherapy has been proven ineffective for GBM, due to hypoxia in the GBM microenvironment, which renders the resistance to radiation-induced cell death. Moreover, the overexpression of the PLK1 gene in glioma cells enhances GBM proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to radiation. This study introduced a hybrid membrane-camouflaged biomimetic lipid nanosensitizer (CNL@miPA), which efficiently encapsulated gold nanoclusters (PA) and miR-593-5p by a chimeric membrane derived from lipids, cancer cells, and natural killer cells. CNL@miPA exhibited exceptional blood-brain barrier and tumor tissue penetration, effectively ameliorating hypoxia and synergizing with radiotherapy. By enabling prolonged miRNA circulation in the bloodstream and achieving high enrichment at the tumor site, CNL@miPA significantly suppressed tumor growth in combination treatment, thereby significantly extending the survival period of treated mice. Overall, the developed biomimetic nanosensitizer represented an efficient and multifunctional targeted delivery system, offering a novel strategy for gene-radiotherapy of GBM.

Peptide-IR820 Conjugate: A Promising Strategy for Efficient Vascular Disruption and Hypoxia Induction in Melanoma

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a noninvasive and precise cancer treatment modality known for its high selectivity and lack of drug resistance. However, the clinical translation of many PTT agents is hindered by the limited biodegradability of inorganic nanoparticles and the instability of organic dyes. In this study, a peptide conjugate, IR820-Cys-Trp-Glu-Trp-Thr-Trp-Tyr (IR820-C), was designed to self-assemble into nanoparticles for both potent PTT and vascular disruption in melanoma treatment. When co-assembled with the poorly soluble vascular disrupting agent (VDA) combretastatin A4 (CA4), the resulting nanoparticles (IR820-C@CA4 NPs) accumulate efficiently in tumors, activate systemic antitumor immune responses, and effectively ablate melanoma with a single treatment and near-infrared irradiation, as confirmed by our in vivo experiments. Furthermore, by exploiting the resulting tumor hypoxia, we subsequently administered the hypoxia-activated prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ) to capitalize on the created microenvironment, thereby boosting therapeutic efficacy and antimetastatic potential. This study showcases the potential of short-peptide-based nanocarriers for the design and development of stable and efficient photothermal platforms. The multifaceted therapeutic strategy, which merges photothermal ablation with vascular disruption and hypoxia-activated chemotherapy, holds great promise for advancing the efficacy and scope of cancer treatment modalities.

A Comprehensive Review of Radiation-Induced Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Multidimensional Applications

At the forefront of advanced material technology, radiation-induced hydrogels present a promising avenue for innovation across various sectors, utilizing gamma radiation, electron beam radiation, and UV radiation. Through the unique synthesis process involving radiation exposure, these hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties that make them highly versatile and valuable for a multitude of applications. This paper focuses on the intricacies of the synthesis methods employed in creating these radiation-induced hydrogels, shedding light on their structural characteristics and functional benefits. In particular, the paper analyzes the diverse utility of these hydrogels in biomedicine and agriculture, showcasing their potential for applications such as targeted drug delivery, injury recovery, and even environmental engineering solutions. By analyzing current research trends and highlighting potential future directions, this review aims to underscore the transformative impact that radiation-induced hydrogels could have on various industries and the advancement of biomedical and agricultural practices.

Phosphorus core-shell tecto dendrimers for enhanced tumor imaging: the rigidity of the backbone matters

Nanoplatforms with amplified passive tumor targeting and enhanced protein resistance can evade unnecessary uptake by the reticuloendothelial system and achieve high tumor retention for accurate tumor theranostics. To achieve this goal, we here constructed phosphorus core-shell tecto dendrimers (CSTDs) with a rigid aromatic backbone core as a nanoplatform for enhanced fluorescence and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dual-mode imaging of tumors. In this study, the phosphorus P-G2.5/G3 CSTDs (G denotes generation) were partially conjugated with tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid (DOTA), cyanine5.5 (Cy5.5) and 1,3-propane sulfonate (1,3-PS) and then labeled with 99mTc. The formed P-G2.5/G3-DOTA-Cy5.5-PS CSTDs possess good monodispersity with a particle size of 10.1 nm and desired protein resistance and cytocompatibility. Strikingly, compared to the counterpart material G3/G3-DOTA-Cy5.5-PS with both the core and shell components being soft poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, the developed P-G2.5/G3-DOTA-Cy5.5-PS complexes allow for more efficient cellular uptake and more significant penetration in 3-dimensional tumor spheroids in vitro, as well as more significant tumor retention and accumulation for enhanced dual-mode fluorescence and SPECT (after labelling with 99mTc) tumor imaging in vivo. Our studies suggest that the rigidity of the core for the constructed CSTDs matters in the amplification of the tumor enhanced permeability retention (EPR) effect for improved cancer nanomedicine development.

Injectable hydrogels for the delivery of nanomaterials for cancer combinatorial photothermal therapy

Progress in the nanotechnology field has led to the development of a new class of materials capable of producing a temperature increase triggered by near infrared light. These photothermal nanostructures have been extensively explored in the ablation of cancer cells. Nevertheless, the available data in the literature have exposed that systemically administered nanomaterials have a poor tumor-homing capacity, hindering their full therapeutic potential. This paradigm shift has propelled the development of new injectable hydrogels for the local delivery of nanomaterials aimed at cancer photothermal therapy. These hydrogels can be assembled at the tumor site after injection (in situ forming) or can undergo a gel-sol-gel transition during injection (shear-thinning/self-healing). Besides incorporating photothermal nanostructures, these injectable hydrogels can also incorporate or be combined with other agents, paving the way for an improved therapeutic outcome. This review analyses the application of injectable hydrogels for the local delivery of nanomaterials aimed at cancer photothermal therapy as well as their combination with photodynamic-, chemo-, immuno- and radio-therapies.

DNA hydrogels and nanogels for diagnostics, therapeutics, and theragnostics of various cancers

As an efficient class of hydrogel-based therapeutic drug delivery systems, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hydrogels (particularly DNA nanogels) have attracted massive attention in the last five years. The main contributor to this is the programmability of these 3-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that creates fundamental effects, especially in treating cancer diseases. Like other active biological ingredients (ABIs), DNA hydrogels can be functionalized with other active agents that play a role in targeting drug delivery and modifying the half-life of the therapeutic cargoes in the body's internal environment. Considering the brilliant advantages of DNA hydrogels, in this survey, we intend to submit an informative collection of feasible methods for the design and preparation of DNA hydrogels and nanogels, and the responsivity of the immune system to these therapeutic cargoes. Moreover, the interactions of DNA hydrogels with cancer biomarkers are discussed in this account. Theragnostic DNA nanogels as an advanced species for both detection and therapeutic purposes are also briefly reviewed.

Synthesis of Bacteria-mimetic Gold Nanoparticles for Phagocytosis by Immune Cells

Cell-based carrier exhibits inherent advantages as the next generation of drug delivery system, namely high biocompatibility and physiological function. Current cell-based carriers are constructed via direct payload internalization or conjugation between cell and payload. However, the cells involved in these strategies must be firstly extracted from the body and the cell-based carrier must be prepared in vitro. Herein, we synthesize bacteria-mimetic gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the construction of cell-based carrier in mice. Both β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified GNPs and adamantane (ADA)-modified GNPs are coated by E. coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The E. coli OMVs induce the phagocytosis of GNPs by circulating immune cells, leading to intracellular degradation of OMVs and subsequent supramolecular self-assembly of GNPs driven by β-CD-ADA host-guest interactions. In vivo construction of cell-based carrier based on bacteria-mimetic GNPs avoids the immunogenicity induced by allogeneic cells and restriction by the number of separated cells. Due to the inflammatory tropism, endogenous immune cells carry the intracellular GNP aggregates to the tumor tissues in vivo. Graphical overview Collect the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of E. coli by gradient centrifugation (a) and coat on gold nanoparticles (GNP) surface (b) to prepare OMV-coated cyclodextrin (CD)-GNPs and OMV-coated adamantane (ADA)-GNPs (c) via ultrasonic method.

Radionuclide Labeled Nanocarrier for Imaging Guided Combined Radionuclide, Sonodynamic, and Photothermal Therapy of Pancreatic Tumours

Radionuclide therapy (RNT) is an effective method for the clinical precise treatment of cancer. However, the uneven dose distribution and rapid metabolism of nuclides limit the effective killing of tumors. To overcome the limitations of radionuclide therapeutic approaches, combining different therapeutic strategies to treat cancer has manifested great promise in basic and clinical research. Here, a new combination therapy strategy was developed to combine radionuclide therapy, sonodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy (RNT-SDT-PTT) under radionuclide imaging guided achieve highly effective combination therapy. We prepared a polydopamine-modified Au nanostar (AN), then loaded with the acoustic sensitizer protoporphyrin (IX) and labeled with diagnostic (^99mTc) or therapeutic (¹³¹I) radionuclides (¹³¹I/^99mTc-AN@D/IX) for the precise diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. After intratumor administration, single photon emission computed tomography imaging showed that the nanocarriers were mostly retained in the tumor compared to free radionuclide. As well as using near-infrared light to trigger PTT and ultrasound with high penetration depth to activate IX to generate reactive oxygen species achieved SDT of tumor. The ultimate significantly improved the inhibitory effects by the RNT-SDT-PTT combined therapy for pancreatic cancer. Therefore, this study proposes an effective radionuclide combination therapy regimen consisting of three widely used treatments, offering promising prospects for the future of oncology.

Research Progress of Nanomedicine-Based Mild Photothermal Therapy in Tumor

With the booming development of nanomedicine, mild photothermal therapy (mPTT, 42-45°C) has exhibited promising potential in tumor therapy. Compared with traditional PTT (>50°C), mPTT has less side effects and better biological effects conducive to tumor treatment, such as loosening the dense structure in tumor tissues, enhancing blood perfusion, and improving the immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, such a relatively low temperature cannot allow mPTT to completely eradicate tumors, and therefore, substantial efforts have been conducted to optimize the application of mPTT in tumor therapy. This review extensively summarizes the latest advances of mPTT, including two sections: (1) taking mPTT as a leading role to maximize its effect by blocking the cell defense mechanisms, and (2) regarding mPTT as a supporting role to assist other therapies to achieve synergistic antitumor curative effect. Meanwhile, the special characteristics and imaging capabilities of nanoplatforms applied in various therapies are discussed. At last, this paper puts forward the bottlenecks and challenges in the current research path of mPTT, and possible solutions and research directions in future are proposed correspondingly.

Hydrogel systems for targeted cancer therapy

When hydrogel materials with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability are used as excellent new drug carriers in the treatment of cancer, they confer the following three advantages. First, hydrogel materials can be used as a precise and controlled drug release systems, which can continuously and sequentially release chemotherapeutic drugs, radionuclides, immunosuppressants, hyperthermia agents, phototherapy agents and other substances and are widely used in the treatment of cancer through radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy. Second, hydrogel materials have multiple sizes and multiple delivery routes, which can be targeted to different locations and types of cancer. This greatly improves the targeting of drugs, thereby reducing the dose of drugs and improving treatment effectiveness. Finally, hydrogel can intelligently respond to environmental changes according to internal and external environmental stimuli so that anti-cancer active substances can be remotely controlled and released on demand. Combining the abovementioned advantages, hydrogel materials have transformed into a hit in the field of cancer treatment, bringing hope to further increase the survival rate and quality of life of patients with cancer.

Stepwise photothermal therapy and chemotherapy by composite scaffolds of gold nanoparticles, BP nanosheets and gelatin immobilized with doxorubicin-loaded thermosensitive liposomes

In recent years, the synergistic effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy has been recognized as an effective strategy for cancer treatment. Controlling the PTT temperature and drug release profile is desirable for minimizing the unexpected damage to normal cells. In this study, a smart platform of stepwise PTT and chemotherapy has been developed by using composite porous scaffolds of biodegradable black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets, gold nanorods(AuNRs), doxorubicin (Dox)-encapsulated thermosensitive liposomes and biodegradable polymers. Under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, the composite scaffolds could attain high and low local temperatures before and after BP degradation, respectively. Dox release from the composite scaffolds could be controlled by the temperature change. In vitro cell culture and in vivo animal experiments indicated that a strong synergistic effect of PTT and chemotherapy could be achieved at an early stage of treatment before BP degradation, and a mild hyperthermia effect was shown for chemotherapy in the late stage after BP degradation. Moreover, the composite scaffolds after the complete release of Dox could support the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. The composite scaffolds showed a synergistic effect of stepwise PTT and chemotherapy for breast cancer elimination and promoted stem cell activities after killing cancer cells.

Sustained delivery of gemcitabine via in situ injectable mussel-inspired hydrogels for the local therapy of pancreatic cancer

The issue of pervasively enhanced drug resistance of pancreatic cancer is fundamental to a better understanding of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Currently available treatment plans involving injectable therapeutics are mainly engineered to improve the performance and broaden their applications in the domain of biomedicine. Fixed-dose-rate infusion of free gemcitabine (Gem) has drawn appropriate attention for its potent anti-tumor efficacy against various solid tumors, whereas it remains a considerable challenge to extend its application and achieve better treatment. Here, we have prepared and demonstrated a long-acting delivery system using gemcitabine and injectable in situ hydrogel for the localized treatment of pancreatic cancer. The hydrogel was prepared using polysaccharide derivatives, oxidized-carboxymethylcellulose (OCMC) and carboxymethylchitosan (CMCS) at optimal ratios by a dopamine-functionalized method for the controlled release of Gem. In vitro drug release behaviors for up to a week indicated sustained drug release of the Gem delivery system. Moreover, desirable apoptosis promotion and apparent cellular proliferation inhibition associated with the drug depot have been found in vitro against BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, bringing minimized side effects to systemic normal tissues. The current findings manifested that the release out of the localized delivery platform in a sustained pattern afforded a durable gemcitabine-based chemotherapy effect and inhibited tumor metastasis more persistently after intratumoral injection of the Gem@Gel system, thereby advancing the development of novel drug-loaded materials with properties not accessed previously.

Tumor-Targeted Injectable Double-Network Hydrogel for Prevention of Breast Cancer Recurrence and Wound Infection via Synergistic Photothermal and Brachytherapy

The high locoregional recurrence rate and potential wound infection in breast cancer after surgery pose enormous risks to patient survival. In this study, a polyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGDA)-alginate double-network nanocomposite hydrogel (GPA) embedded with 125 I-labeled RGDY peptide-modified gold nanorods (125 I-GNR-RGDY) is fabricated. The double-network hydrogel is formed by injection of GPA precursor solutions into the cavity of resected cancerous breasts of mice where gelation occurred rapidly. The enhanced temperature-induced PEGDA polymerization driven by near-infrared light irradiation, and then, the second polymer network is crosslinked between alginate and endogenous Ca2+ around the tumor. The double-network hydrogel possesses a dense polymer network and tightly fixes 125 I-GNR-RGDY, which exhibit superior persistent photothermal and radioactive effects. Hyperthermia induced by photothermal therapy can inhibit self-repair of damaged DNA and promote blood circulation to improve the hypoxic microenvironment, which can synergistically enhance the therapeutic efficacy of brachytherapy and simultaneously eliminate pathogenic bacteria. Notably, this nanocomposite hydrogel facilitates antibacterial activity to prevent potential wound infection and is tracked by single-photon emission computerized tomography imaging owing to isotope labeling of loaded 125 I-GNR-RGDY. The combination of photothermal therapy and brachytherapy has enabled the possibility of proposing a novel postoperative adjuvant strategy for preventing tumor recurrence and wound infection.

Hydrogels for localized chemotherapy of liver cancer: a possible strategy for improved and safe liver cancer treatment

The systemic drug has historically been preferred for the treatment of the majority of pathological conditions, particularly liver cancer. Indeed, this mode of treatment is associated with adverse reactions, toxicity, off-target accumulation, and rapid hepatic and renal clearance. Numerous efforts have been made to design systemic therapeutic carriers to improve retention while decreasing side effects and clearance. Following systemic medication, local administration of therapeutic agents allows for higher 'effective' doses with fewer side effects, kidney accumulation, and clearance. Hydrogels are highly biocompatible and can be used for both imaging and therapy. Hydrogel-based drug delivery approach has fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy and can deliver drugs to tumors for a longer time. The chemical and physical flexibility of hydrogels can be used to achieve disease-induced in situ accumulation as well as subsequent drug release and hydrogel-programmed degradation. Moreover, they can act as a biocompatible depot for localized chemotherapy when stimuli-responsive carriers are administrated. Herein, we summarize the design strategies of various hydrogels used for localized chemotherapy of liver cancer and their delivery routes, as well as recent research on smart hydrogels.

Injectable and pH-responsive self-assembled peptide hydrogel for promoted tumor cell uptake and enhanced cancer chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for cancer therapy. However, its anti-tumor efficiency is always impaired by the poor bioavailability and low tumor accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs. The variation between the tumor microenvironment and normal tissue has been recognized as an effective tool to improve drug anti-tumor efficiency. Herein, we developed an injectable, pH-responsive, in situ self-assembled drug-peptide hydrogel (MTX-KKFKFEFEF(DA)) for highly efficient local tumor chemotherapy with few side effects. The small molecule drug, methotrexate (MTX), and pH-responsive linker, 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (DA), were facilely conjugated onto the chain of the KKFKFEFEF peptide via an amidation reaction. The negatively charged drug-peptide (pH 7.4) can be activated to be positive and achieve a sol-gel phase transition under an acidic microenvironment (pH 6.5) both in vitro and in vivo, resulting in highly efficient cellular uptake and endocytosis capacities. Moreover, the in vivo anti-tumor therapeutic effect revealed that the MTX-KKFKFEFEF(DA) hydrogel exhibits long-term tumor retention time, much better tumor inhibition rate and negligible side effects after intratumoral injection into breast tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this study reveals a versatile strategy for fabricating a pH-responsive drug-peptide hydrogel to improve the chemotherapeutic efficacy of drugs in cancer treatment.