Injectable Magnetic Hydrogel Incorporated with Anti-Inflammatory Peptide for Efficient Magnetothermal Treatment of...

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility, affecting ≈176 million women of reproductive age worldwide. Current treatments, including pharmacological and surgical interventions, are often associated with significant side effects and high recurrence rates. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative and safer therapeutic approaches. In this study, an injectable magnetic hydrogel nanosystem is developed designed for the dual-purpose magnetothermal and anti-inflammatory treatment of endometriosis. This hydrogel incorporates Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles alongside an anti-inflammatory peptide. Upon magnetic activation, the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles induce a localized hyperthermic response, raising the temperature of endometriotic lesions to 63.3 °C, effectively destroying endometriotic cells. Concurrently, the thermally responsive hydrogel facilitates the controlled release of the anti-inflammatory peptide, thus modulating the inflammatory milieu. The biocompatibility and complete in vivo degradability of the hydrogel further enhance its therapeutic potential. The in vivo studies demonstrated that this injectable magnetic hydrogel system achieved a 90% reduction in the volume of endometriotic lesions and significantly decreased inflammatory markers, offering a promising non-invasive treatment modality for endometriosis. By integrating precise lesion ablation with the modulation of the inflammatory microenvironment, this system represents a novel approach to the clinical management of endometriosis.