University of Kentucky
Magnetic Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Combined Chemotherapy and Hyperthermia Treatment of Cancer
Institution
University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Samantha Meenach; J. Zach Hilt; Kimberly Anderson
Abstract
Chemotherapy and radiation are conventional cancer treatments that are still limiting for some types of cancer, despite their widespread use. Hyperthermia, the heating of cancerous tissues to 40-45°C, has shown to increase the efficacy of both chemotherapy and radiation. For example, hyperthermia treatment has been shown to increase the effectiveness of paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic that disrupts mitosis. We hypothesized that magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites could be used for a dual-therapy application to treat cancer. Hydrogels are three-dimensional cross linked polymers that swell in water. Poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels were fabricated with magnetic nanoparticles incorporated in the hydrogel matrix. These nanoparticles can be remotely heated by an alternating magnetic field (AMF), thus producing the hyperthermia effect from the hydrogel nanocomposite. When imbibed with paclitaxel, the hydrogels have the potential to provide synergistic heating and chemotherapy in a local area. Swelling analysis indicated an inverse relationship between temperature and volume swelling ratio (Q), and between crosslinking density and Q. AMF heating of the hydrogel nanocomposites indicated higher crosslinked hydrogels exhibit a greater change in temperature, due to a larger magneticnanoparticle- to-gel volume ratio. Hydrogels with lower crosslinking densities exhibited an overall faster release of paclitaxel due to increased effective diffusivity. Hyperthermia studies have demonstrated that these hydrogel nanocomposites can be remotely heated, causing an increase in cytotoxicity for M059K glioblastoma cells. Current studies are focusing on the cytotoxicity effect of combined hyperthermia and paclitaxel release.
Magnetic Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Combined Chemotherapy and Hyperthermia Treatment of Cancer
Chemotherapy and radiation are conventional cancer treatments that are still limiting for some types of cancer, despite their widespread use. Hyperthermia, the heating of cancerous tissues to 40-45°C, has shown to increase the efficacy of both chemotherapy and radiation. For example, hyperthermia treatment has been shown to increase the effectiveness of paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic that disrupts mitosis. We hypothesized that magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites could be used for a dual-therapy application to treat cancer. Hydrogels are three-dimensional cross linked polymers that swell in water. Poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels were fabricated with magnetic nanoparticles incorporated in the hydrogel matrix. These nanoparticles can be remotely heated by an alternating magnetic field (AMF), thus producing the hyperthermia effect from the hydrogel nanocomposite. When imbibed with paclitaxel, the hydrogels have the potential to provide synergistic heating and chemotherapy in a local area. Swelling analysis indicated an inverse relationship between temperature and volume swelling ratio (Q), and between crosslinking density and Q. AMF heating of the hydrogel nanocomposites indicated higher crosslinked hydrogels exhibit a greater change in temperature, due to a larger magneticnanoparticle- to-gel volume ratio. Hydrogels with lower crosslinking densities exhibited an overall faster release of paclitaxel due to increased effective diffusivity. Hyperthermia studies have demonstrated that these hydrogel nanocomposites can be remotely heated, causing an increase in cytotoxicity for M059K glioblastoma cells. Current studies are focusing on the cytotoxicity effect of combined hyperthermia and paclitaxel release.