Hydrogel treatment that targets tumours
Scientists in China have developed injectable hydrogels that can deliver four times the amount of the anti-cancer drug Taxol, compared to intravenous administration.
Taxol is used to treat many forms of cancer, including breast, lung and ovarian cancers. It is typically administered by three-weekly intravenous injections, which can take several hours to achieve the required dose.
As an alternative, hydrogels can hold exceptionally high drug loadings that can be released in a controlled and sustained manner. However, their synthesis is often complex, involving multiple steps and low yields.
The researchers have successfully simplified and significantly improved the yield of Taxol hydrogels by forming folic acid-Taxol conjugates in vivo. The folic acid component facilitates tumour targeting, allowing the hydrogels to sustainably release their anti-cancer target by subsequent ester bond hydrolysis.
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