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Review
. 2022 May 19;8(5):315.
doi: 10.3390/gels8050315.

Hydrogels for Antitumor and Antibacterial Therapy

Xiuling Fang  1 , Cheng Wang  1   2 , Shuwen Zhou  1 , Pengfei Cui  1 , Huaanzi Hu  1 , Xinye Ni  2 , Pengju Jiang  1 , Jianhao Wang  1
Affiliations
Review

Hydrogels for Antitumor and Antibacterial Therapy

Xiuling Fang et al. Gels. .

Abstract

As a highly absorbent and hydrophobic material with a three-dimensional network structure, hydrogels are widely used in biomedical fields for their excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, adjustable physicochemical properties, ability to encapsulate a variety of drugs, controllability, and degradability. Hydrogels can be used not only for wound dressings and tissue repair, but also as drug carriers for the treatment of tumors. As multifunctional hydrogels are the focus for many researchers, this review focuses on hydrogels for antitumor therapy, hydrogels for antibacterial therapy, and hydrogels for co-use in tumor therapy and bacterial infection. We highlighted the advantages and representative applications of hydrogels in these fields and also outlined the shortages and future orientations of this useful tool, which might give inspirations for future studies.

Keywords: antibacterial; antitumor; hydrogel.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of the application of multifunctional hydrogels.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) pH-dependent release of DOX from the SNF/D-V0, SNF/D-V305-2, SNF/D-V310-6, DSNF/V0, and D-SNF/D-V0 systems for 3−167 h at pH 4.5 (a), 6.0 (b), and 7.4 (c). Statistically significant: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001; (B) viability of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cultured in vaterite−silk hydrogels and DOX-loaded vaterite−silk hydrogels. Statistically significant: ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001; (C) morphology of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cultured in vaterite−silk hydrogels and DOX-loaded vaterite−silk hydrogels. (a–f) SNF/D-V310-6, D-SNF/V0, D-SNF/D-V0, DOX-free silk−vaterite microspheres (SNF/V0), free DOX, and control TCP groups (MCF-7). Reprinted with permission from Ref. [27]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Diagram of the molecular structure of the RADA32−melittin fusion peptide; (B) comparison of the melittin release profile between the MRI hydrogel and melittin solution over a period of 2 days; (C) comparison of the ICG release profile between the MRI hydrogel and ICG solution over a period of 2 days; (D) evaluation of the hemolysis effect of the MRI hydrogel and free melittin; (E) fluorescence imaging of MRI hydrogel and ICG solution biodistribution at 5 min, 3 h, and 24 h post-intratumoral injection; (F) evaluation of the in vivo antitumor efficacy of the MRI hydrogel. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [54]. Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematics of synthesis and therapeutic mechanism of FIGs-LC. (a) The synthetic procedures of FIGs-LC; (b) schematic circuit diagram for the peroxisome-inspired therapeutic mechanism of FIGs-LC based on the dual-enzyme-regulated ROS generation with GSH and NIR activation. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [79]. Copyright 2021, Nature Publishing Group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Inorganic antibacterial agent hydrogel for wound healing. (A) The CuS NP hydrogel. (a) Schematic diagram of preparation of a liver bleeding model and hemostatic property of CuS NP hydrogels; (b) antibacterial ability of CuS NP hydrogel; (c) in vivo healing evaluation of infected wounds. Statistically significant: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [97]. Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. (B) The Ag/Ag@AgCl/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel. (a) Identification of ROS was detected by ESR spectroscopy and significant enhancement effect on antibacterial activities (H1: control hydrogel; H2: Ag/Ag@AgCl hydrogel; H3, H4, and H5: Ag/Ag@AgCl/ZnO hydrogels, and H4 for representative; H6: ZnO hydrogel). Statistically significant: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001. (b) in vivo study on the effects of treatment of S. aureus-induced wound infections by hydrogels and the corresponding wound photographs of the rats at days 0, 2, 4, 8, and 14. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [104]. Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A) Synthesis routes for chitosan hydrogel films; (B) thermal Analysis of TMCS film and CTMCSG hydrogel films. (a) TGA curves; (b) DTG curves; (C) the in vitro gentamicin sulfate release of CTMCSG hydrogel films; (D) the antibacterial activity of TMCS film and CTMCSG hydrogel films; (E) the cytotoxicity of TMCS film and CTMCSG hydrogel films. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [107].
Figure 7
Figure 7
(A) The PCEC-QAS hydrogel. (a) Schematic diagram of the self-assembly of PCEC-QAS NPs; (b) relative viability of 3T3 cells inoculated on the PCEC-QAS hydrogel; (c) hemolysis ratio of the PCEC-QAS hydrogel. Negative and positive controls were normal saline solution and distilled water, respectively; (d) representative photographs of wounds at day 0, 4, 8, and 12; (e) wound closure rates. * p < 0.05. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [121]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. (B) The IKFQFHFD peptide hydrogel. (a) Release curves of cypate loaded in the hydrogel-Cy system under different pH conditions; (b) release curves of cypate and proline loaded in the hydrogel-Cy-Pro system (under pH 5.5); (c) representative photographs of integrated MRSA biofilm incubated with cypate released from the hydrogel-Cy system at a scheduled time point of 4 h under a NIR laser (808 nm,0.5 W/cm2) irradiation for different times; (d) crystal violet staining image and its corresponding absorbance for integrated MRSA biofilm incubated with the hydrogel-Cy system (under pH 5.5) for 4 h followed by NIR laser irradiation (808 nm, 0.5 W/cm2, 5 min) (the biofilm under NIR laser irradiation without incubation with the hydrogel-Cy system was used as the control); (e) in vivo wound healing. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [7]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
Figure 8
Figure 8
(A) Viscosity as a function of shear rate. (B) Dynamic modulus of DNT hydrogel under increasing strains from 0.01% to 1000% with a fixed frequency of 1 Hz at 25 °C. (C) Injectable property of the hydrogel. (D) (a) A hydrogel sample was (b) cut in half, (c) stained with rhodamine (and two fragments were brought together after several minutes), and (d) healed into one. (E) The wound area was measured by Image Pro Plus and the plot of wound area ratio, from curve a to c, BLANK, (D + T) mixture, DNT hydrogel. (F) Photographs of the wounds treated with hydrogels, (D + T) mixture and nontreated at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 days, respectively. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [134]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
Figure 9
Figure 9
(A) Schematic illustration (chemistry perspective) of the complete process of synthesis of the hybrid hydrogel membranes. (B) In vitro release of DOX from hydrogels as a function of pH. (C) In vitro cytotoxicity based on the MTT assay of (a) HEK 293T and (b) A375 cell lines after incubation with hydrogels and hybrids. (D) Evaluation of resistance/sensitivity of Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa) bacteria toward cross-linked hydrogels: effect of AgNPs, DOX, and AgNPs + DOX (n.o. = not observed). Reprinted with permission from Ref. [155]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
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