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Targeted Plasma Membrane Delivery of a Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulated in a Liquid Crystal Nanoparticle Carrier
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NIR-II Light-Modulated Smart Drug Delivery System Utilizing Drug-Gated Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Boosting Anticancer

Jiamei Gu1, Shangwen Zhang1, Jiawei Yuan1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology, College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang, China.

Polymer Science & Technology (Washington, D.C.)
|June 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study introduces a novel nanocomposite hydrogel for cancer therapy. The drug-gated system enhances antitumor effects through controlled release of cisplatin (CDDP) and aPD-L1, combined with photothermal therapy for improved treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Optimizing the tumor microenvironment is crucial for enhancing cancer therapies.
  • Developing localized drug delivery systems remains a key challenge in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a drug-gated nanocomposite hydrogel for controlled release of anticancer agents.
  • To investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of combined chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a hydrogel using polyglutamic acid-modified gold nanorods (AuNRs) and cisplatin (CDDP).
  • Utilized CDDP as a cross-linker and gating agent for aPD-L1 release.
  • Investigated dual-action drug release triggered by chloride ions and near-infrared (NIR) heating.
  • Evaluated the combined effects of photothermal chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade.

Main Results:

  • The nanocomposite hydrogel demonstrated controlled release of aPD-L1.
  • Localized photothermal effect enhanced cisplatin efficacy and induced tumor ablation.
  • Photothermal chemotherapy potentiated aPD-L1 immunotherapy by inducing immunogenic cell death.
  • The system showed significant synergistic antitumor effects.

Conclusions:

  • The developed therapeutic gel scaffold offers a promising approach for localized, stimulus-responsive drug delivery.
  • This system synergizes hyperthermia, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy for enhanced cancer treatment.
  • The findings highlight the potential of this approach in advancing cancer therapy strategies.
Keywords:
bimodal drug releasechemoimmunotherapyphotothermal therapystimulus responsetherapeutic hydrogel

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