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Healing Brain Tumors With Hydrogels

Scientists have invented an injectable hydrogel that delivers drugs to treat brain tumors

Author

Ming Jun Lee
May 13, 2023

Image excerpt from the research paper illustrating the solidifying of hydrogel after brain resection

The article discusses the development of a self-assembling paclitaxel (PTX) filament (PF) hydrogel that stimulates macrophage-mediated immune response for local treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. The researchers converted PTX, a small-molecule anticancer drug of poor water solubility, into a molecular hydrogelator that can be used for local delivery of aCD47, a hydrophilic macromolecular antibody. This “drug-delivered-by-drug” strategy combines the distinct material properties of the two therapeutic agents for their long-acting local release and synergizes their biological properties to stimulate tumor-associated macrophages with concurrent T cell-mediated immune response for improved tumor treatment.

Key points:

  • Development of a self-assembling paclitaxel (PTX) filament (PF) hydrogel for local treatment of recurrent glioblastoma.

  • Conversion of PTX into a molecular hydrogelator for local delivery of aCD47.

  • Combination of the distinct material properties of PTX and aCD47 for long-acting local release.

  • Synergization of the biological properties of PTX and aCD47 to stimulate tumor-associated macrophages and T cell-mediated immune response.

  • Improved tumor treatment through the “drug-delivered-by-drug” strategy.