Paclitaxel-nanoparticles-loaded double network hydrogel for local treatment of breast cancer after surgical resection

Anticancer drug-loaded hydrogels are a promising strategy for the local treatment of tumors such as breast cancer. We hypothesize that paclitaxel-nanoparticles-loaded double network (PTX-NPs-DN) hydrogel can deliver PTX locally and sustainably in the tumor resection cavity. In this study, hydrogels loaded with PTX-NPs were prepared via self-assembly of collagen and self-crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The hydrogel with a porous structure has a compressive modulus of 33 kPa at a strain of 40%. In this system, PTX release presented a linear release kinetic over 10 days in vitro and higher accumulating concentrations of PTX in local adipose tissue than in plasma. The biocompatibility studies show that PTX-NPs-DN hydrogel did not induce cytotoxicity in different cell lines (MCF-7, L929s) and hemolysis in vitro nor inflammatory response in vivo. In vivo anti-tumor efficacy study, compared with all other groups, significantly decreased tumor weight and improved capacity to slow down tumor recurrences were observed in the group treated with PTX-NPs-DN hydrogel. In conclusion, this proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility, tolerability and efficiency of PTX-NPs-DN hydrogel for the local treatment of breast cancer.