Naturally-derived injectable hydrogels for antitumor therapeutics

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery
• Oncology

Background:

• Injectable hydrogels show promise for localized tumor therapy, enabling controlled drug release and reducing systemic toxicity.
• Synthetic polymer hydrogels face challenges in clinical translation, including complex fabrication, immunogenicity, and toxicity.
• Natural biomaterials (chitosan, gelatin, hyaluronic acid) are increasingly used for antitumor hydrogels due to biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the structural advantages and design principles of natural biomaterial-based injectable hydrogels for antitumor applications.
• To focus on cargo-loading mechanisms for diverse therapeutic agents within these hydrogels.
• To discuss challenges and guide future development of natural material-based injectable hydrogels for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on natural biomaterials in injectable hydrogels for cancer therapy.
• Analysis of structural properties and design strategies for enhanced drug delivery.
• Evaluation of cargo-loading mechanisms for chemotherapeutics, immunomodulators, and gene therapy vectors.
• Discussion of clinical translation challenges and future research directions.

Main Results:

• Natural biomaterials offer superior biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and clinical feasibility compared to synthetic polymers.
• Specific structural features of natural materials facilitate controlled release and synergistic codelivery of multiple therapeutic agents.
• Effective cargo-loading strategies have been developed for various therapeutic payloads, enhancing antitumor efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Natural biomaterial-based injectable hydrogels represent a viable and advantageous platform for advanced, localized cancer therapy.
• Addressing challenges in clinical translation is crucial for realizing the full potential of these advanced drug delivery systems.
• Further research into design principles and cargo integration will drive the development of next-generation antitumor hydrogels.