Programmable Release of Chemotherapeutics from Ferrocene-Based Injectable Hydrogels Slows Melanoma Growth

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Rebecca Rothe - , Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Yong Xu - , Chair of Biomolecular Interactions, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Johanna Wodtke - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Florian Brandt - , Chair of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Sebastian Meister - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Markus Laube - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Pier Luigi Lollini - , University of Bologna (Author)
  • Yixin Zhang - , Chair of Biomolecular Interactions, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jens Pietzsch - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Sandra Hauser - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

Hydrogel-based injectable drug delivery systems provide temporally and spatially controlled drug release with reduced adverse effects on healthy tissues. Therefore, they represent a promising therapeutic option for unresectable solid tumor entities. In this study, a peptide-starPEG/hyaluronic acid-based physical hydrogel is modified with ferrocene to provide a programmable drug release orchestrated by matrix-drug interaction and local reactive oxygen species (ROS). The injectable ROS-responsive hydrogel (hiROSponse) exhibits adequate biocompatibility and biodegradability, which are important for clinical applications. HiROSponse is loaded with the two cytostatic drugs (hiROSponsedox/ptx) doxorubicin (dox) and paclitaxel (ptx). Dox is a hydrophilic compound and its release is mainly controlled by Fickian diffusion, while the hydrophobic interactions between ptx and ferrocene can control its release and thus be regulated by the oxidation of ferrocene to the more hydrophilic state of ferrocenium. In a syngeneic malignant melanoma-bearing mouse model, hiROSponsedox/ptx slows tumor growth without causing adverse side effects and doubles the relative survival probability. Programmable release is further demonstrated in a tumor model with a low physiological ROS level, where dox release, low dose local irradiation, and the resulting ROS-triggered ptx release lead to tumor growth inhibition and increased survival.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2400265
JournalAdvanced healthcare materials
Volume13
Issue number27
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39007274
ORCID /0000-0002-6669-4995/work/173054879

Keywords

Keywords

  • biodegradable, local drug delivery, noncovalent hydrogel, sequential drug release, small animal imaging