Administering chemotherapy directly to a tumor and releasing it in a controlled manner over days or weeks is the aim of a new injectable hydrogel developed by researchers at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). The system has demonstrated antitumor activity in experiments involving ovarian cancer and glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor), and could help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy on the rest of the body. Instead of allowing the drug to circulate throughout the body, the hydrogel is designed to concentrate the treatment at the tumor site and release it gradually. In experiments, the material remained active for several days and maintained its structure for more than three weeks. The researchers also found that the system could reach tumor cells and prolong the drug’s effect at the tumor site.
“Our goal was to develop a completely natural and sustainable platform that would allow treatment to be administered directly to the tumor and maintain its release for days or weeks, thereby minimizing side effects on healthy tissues,” says Diana Fernandes, the study’s principal investigator. She holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Lisbon, where she also studied Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her academic career has focused on developing drug delivery systems, particularly for applications in cancer treatment.