IIT Guwahati, Bose Institute Develop Injectable Hydrogel for Localized Cancer Therapy

Guwahati/Kolkata: In a major breakthrough, researchers from IIT Guwahati and the Bose Institute Kolkata have developed an innovative injectable hydrogel for localized cancer treatment.

The hydrogel, designed to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumor sites, reduces systemic side effects often seen with conventional therapies like chemotherapy. Composed of ultra-short peptides, the hydrogel remains localized and releases drugs in response to elevated glutathione levels, a marker abundant in tumor cells.

Preclinical trials on a murine breast cancer model showed promising results, with a single injection reducing tumor size by 75% within 18 days. Researchers reported no detectable side effects on other organs, highlighting the hydrogel’s precision and safety.

“This work exemplifies how scientific innovation can directly address cancer treatment challenges,” said Prof. Debapratim Das of IIT Guwahati, co-author of the study published in Materials Horizons.

The team is conducting further studies on other tumor types and plans to seek clinical trial approval soon. This development could revolutionize cancer therapy by enhancing drug efficacy and minimizing toxicity.