Thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel loading with elemene-loaded liposomes for enhanced anti-tumor effect

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapy

Background:

• Tumor microenvironment complexity necessitates combination therapies.
• Co-delivery of chemotherapy drugs and photothermal agents is challenging.
• Nano graphene oxide (NGO) offers potential as a dual-function carrier and photothermal agent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel thermo-sensitive hydrogel for combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT).
• To co-deliver elemene (ELE) chemotherapy drug and nano graphene oxide (NGO) photothermal agent.
• To enhance anti-tumor efficacy through a targeted, stimuli-responsive drug delivery system.

Main Methods:

• Prepared elemene (ELE)-loaded, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified nano graphene oxide (NGO) liposomes (ELE-GA/NGO-Lip).
• Formulated a thermo-sensitive hydrogel (ELE-GA/NGO-Lip-gel) using chitosan (CS) and β-glycerin sodium phosphate (β-GP).
• Evaluated hydrogel properties including gelling temperature, pH/temperature-responsiveness, and photothermal conversion efficacy.
• Assessed in vitro anti-tumor efficiency of the hydrogel upon laser irradiation.

Main Results:

• The ELE-GA/NGO-Lip-gel exhibited a gelling temperature of 37°C and demonstrated temperature and pH-responsive properties.
• The hydrogel showed a high photothermal conversion effect upon 808 nm laser irradiation.
• ELE-GA/NGO-Lip-gel displayed significant in vitro anti-tumor efficiency against SMMC-7721 cells.

Conclusions:

• Developed a novel thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel for combined chemotherapy and PTT.
• The hydrogel system effectively co-delivers chemotherapy drug and photothermal agent.
• This platform shows potential for enhanced combined tumor therapy applications.