A collaborative research effort led by Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Bose Institute Kolkata has resulted in the development of an injectable hydrogel for targeted cancer treatment. The hydrogel-based therapy delivers anti-cancer drugs directly to tumour sites, reducing side effects typically associated with conventional cancer treatments.
The research findings have been published in Materials Horizons, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The study was co-authored by Prof. Debapratim Das and research scholars Tanushree Das and Ritvika Kushwaha from IIT Guwahati, along with collaborators Dr. Kuldip Jana, Satyajit Halder, and Anup Kumar Misra from Bose Institute Kolkata.
Cancer remains a significant health challenge globally. Existing treatments such as chemotherapy and surgical interventions have notable limitations. Surgical options are often not feasible for internal organ tumours, while chemotherapy’s systemic drug delivery can harm both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to severe side effects.
To address these challenges, researchers designed a hydrogel capable of precise drug delivery to tumour sites. Hydrogels, which are water-based, three-dimensional polymer networks, are known for their ability to retain fluids and mimic living tissues, making them suitable for biomedical applications. This hydrogel acts as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs, releasing them in a controlled manner in response to specific tumour microenvironment conditions.
The hydrogel is composed of ultra-short peptides that are biocompatible and biodegradable. These peptides are insoluble in biological fluids, ensuring the hydrogel remains at the injection site. It responds to elevated glutathione (GSH) levels, which are abundant in tumour cells, triggering controlled drug release. This approach minimises interaction with healthy tissues and reduces systemic side effects.
“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 localised drug delivery,” said Prof Debapratim Das, Department of Chemistry, IIT Guwahati.
In preclinical trials using a murine model of breast cancer, a single injection of the hydrogel loaded with the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin resulted in approximately 75 per cent tumour size reduction within 18 days. The hydrogel remained localised at the tumour site, steadily releasing the drug without detectable side effects on other organs.
This system improves the drug’s effectiveness while reducing the required dosage, minimising toxicity. Laboratory studies confirmed that the hydrogel enhances drug uptake by cancer cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes programmed cell death, attacking tumours on multiple fronts.
Further studies are underway to determine the maximum tumour size reduction achievable with a single dose and to explore the hydrogel’s applicability to other tumour types. Researchers plan to proceed with clinical trials once studies are complete and are seeking an appropriate partner for collaboration.