Injectable doxorubicin-loaded hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel for locoregional therapy and inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 2025-03, Vol.247, Article 114433
• Main Authors: Shi, Yongli, Zhu, Huiqing, Xu, Suyue, Zhao, Jingya, Wang, Yuxin, Pan, Xiaofei, Zhao, Bingqian, Sun, Zeyu, Yin, Yili, Xu, Linyin, Wei, Fengjiao, He, Sisi, Hou, Xueyan, Xue, Jintao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Hyaluronic acid; Locoregional therapy; Metastasis; Thermo-sensitive hydrogel
• ISSN: 0927-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114433

Therapy and metastasis pose significant challenges for breast cancer therapy. Locoregional chemotherapy presents a promising strategy to address these dilemmas. In this study, a doxorubicin-loaded injectable hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid (DOX-MCHAgel) was fabricated for locoregional chemotherapy and inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer. The high bio-safety of cargo-free hydrogels (MCHAgel) would enhance patient compliance. The sustained DOX release behaviors from DOX-MCHAgel (over 10 days) could reduce dosing frequency and achieve long-term therapeutic effects. The potent in vivo anti-tumor activity of DOX-MCHAgel was verified by the smallest tumor volumes, the largest number of apoptotic cells, and the strongest fluorescence intensity in TUNEL sections. Notably, the injectable DOX-MCHAgel not only greatly suppressed the growth of 4T1 tumor tissues, but also effectively curbed the liver and lung metastasis in vivo. Moreover, the survival of 4T1-tumor bearing mice was extended without obvious systemic toxicity. In brief, the novel injectable hydrogel developed in this study offers a new strategy for locoregional therapy and inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer. •A novel injectable hydrogel (MCHAgel) was synthesized.•The in vivo bio-security of MCHAgel was systematacially studied.•DOX-loaded hydrogel exhibited potent therapy effects of breast cancer.