Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Analysis of Cancer Cell Invasion and Anti-metastatic Drug Screening Using Hydrogel Micro-chamber Array HMCA-based Plates
Published on: October 25, 2018
Anticancer activity of a hydrogel containing folic acid towards MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells
Sonia Trombino1, Teresa Ferrarelli, Michele Pellegrino
1Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy. roberta.cassano@unical.it.
Aim:
The aim of the present study was to prepare a hydrogel, based on ellagic acid and glycine, embedded with folic acid, as a subcutaneous implant for the treatment of breast cancer. The function of folic acid is to selectively and actively target tumor cells which are well-known to overexpress folic acid receptors on their surface.
Materials And Methods:
A pro-drug based on L-glycine and ellagic acid, was functionalized with a polymerizable group and loaded with folic acid to make it more natural, non-toxic, compatible and specific for the site of action. Cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells was also evaluated. Release studies of folic acid were conducted on aliquots of hydrogel at different pH (6.2 and 7.4) and time-points (1, 6, 12 and 24 h) using a shaking water bath at 37°C (body temperature).
Results:
Our results show that folic acid release by the hydrogel is characterized by a slow kinetic release, especially at pH 6.2. Moreover, it was evidenced that the exposure of human breast cancer cells to ellagic acid-based hydrogel containing folic acid significantly reduced cell viability.
