Revolutionary Protein Hydrogel Emerges as a Promising Solution for Targeted Drug Delivery

A research team from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has introduced an innovative self-standing protein hydrogel designed for selective drug delivery, potentially enhancing the therapeutic effects of treatments while reducing toxicity.

The team, led by experts in biological sciences, has successfully developed a self-crosslinkable protein hydrogel that shows promise in improving cancer therapy and wound healing through controlled, sustained drug release without harmful chemical additives.

This breakthrough was achieved in collaboration with faculty from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST. The findings were published in the Journal of Controlled Release.

The hydrogel utilizes a unique drug delivery system that allows for gradual drug release from within its structure. This process operates on the principle of encapsulating the drug within the hydrogel, which releases it progressively as the internal crosslinks formed by the proteins decompose over time.

A significant advancement in this research is the hydrogel's ability to form cross-links using proteins that are naturally present in the human body. This eliminates the necessity for chemical cross-linkers, which often pose risks of cytotoxicity. This development opens new avenues for safer and more effective drug delivery systems.

In an effort to enhance the hydrogel's performance, the researchers incorporated proliferating cell nuclear antigen proteins into the formulation. This addition helps to suppress immune inflammatory responses. When tested in mice, the hydrogel showed no signs of immune inflammatory reactions, indicating its high biocompatibility.

The hydrogel's drug delivery capabilities were tested for targeting breast cancer tumors by incorporating anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin. Furthermore, it demonstrated effectiveness in promoting wound healing through the use of growth factors like PDGF-BB.

Additionally, the hydrogel has shown promise in photothermal chemotherapy, a technique that employs photosensitized particles to generate localized heat when exposed to light. This method effectively targets and destroys cancer cells, and the hydrogel's ability to retain these particles enhances their therapeutic activity within tumor sites.

The lead researcher expressed that the self-crosslinkable protein hydrogel serves as a versatile platform for delivering various treatment modalities tailored to specific injection sites. This versatility is key to addressing a wide range of biomedical applications.

In conclusion, the development of this innovative protein hydrogel represents a significant advancement in the field of targeted drug delivery, offering promising solutions for more effective and safer therapeutic interventions.