IIT Guwahati Develops Injectable Hydrogel for Effective Breast Cancer Therapy

IIT Guwahati researchers have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel designed for localized cancer treatment. This research has been published in Materials Horizons, a journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

IIT Guwahati Develops Injectable Hydrogel for Effective Breast Cancer Therapy

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Bose Institute Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localized cancer treatment. This innovative therapy delivers anti-cancer drugs directly to tumor sites, significantly minimizing the side effects commonly associated with conventional cancer treatments. The findings have been published in Materials Horizons, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The paper is co-authored by Prof. Debapratim Das and his research scholars Tanushree Das and Ritvika Kushwaha from IIT Guwahati, along with collaborators Dr. Kuldip Jana, Satyajit Halder, and Anup Kumar Misra from Bose Institute Kolkata.

Prof. Debpratim Das from the Department of Chemistry at IIT Guwahati, along with his team, has tackled these challenges by designing a hydrogel that precisely delivers drugs to the tumor site, ensuring targeted and localized treatment. Hydrogels are water-based, three-dimensional polymer networks known for their ability to absorb and retain fluids. Their unique structure closely resembles living tissues, making them ideal for biomedical applications. This newly developed hydrogel serves as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs, releasing them in a controlled manner in response to specific conditions within the tumor microenvironment.

Speaking about the breakthrough, Prof. Debapratim Das, Dept. of Chemistry, IIT Guwahati, said, “This work exemplifies how scientific innovation can directly address the pressing needs of cancer treatment. The hydrogel’s unique properties allow it to work in harmony with the biological environment, offering precision where it is needed most. We are excited by its potential to transform our thoughts about localized drug delivery.”

This innovative delivery system enhances the drug's effectiveness while reducing the required dosage, thereby minimizing toxicity. Laboratory studies have also shown that the hydrogel improves drug uptake by cancer cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes programmed cell death, effectively targeting tumors through multiple mechanisms.

Ongoing studies aim to determine the maximum tumor size reduction achievable with a single dose and explore its efficacy against other types of tumors. Once these studies are complete, the team plans to seek approval for clinical trials and is actively looking for suitable partners to facilitate this transition.

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