Injectable Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Enhanced Mild Photothermal Therapy of Oral Cancer via Oxygen-Independent Thermodynamic Therapy
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Central Laboratory, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China
- 2Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China
- 3Stomatology Institute of Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China
- 4Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China
Abstract
Polypseudorotaxane-based polymeric networks provide a versatile framework for constructing injectable hydrogels with dynamic assembly and multifunctional therapeutic capabilities. Herein, we developed an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel (IA@PFHA) based on a polypseudorotaxane network formed through host–guest assembly of α-cyclodextrin-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-αCD) and indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded Pluronic F127 nanoparticles (ICG@PF127), with 2,2′-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH) incorporated as an oxygen-independent radical initiator. The resulting network enabled the co-incorporation of ICG and AIPH while exhibiting shear-thinning injectability, providing a polymeric platform for localized integration of photothermal and radical-generating functions. Upon 808 nm irradiation, IA@PFHA generated mild hyperthermia below 45 °C while promoting AIPH-derived radical generation. This design integrates mild photothermal therapy (m-PTT) with oxygen-independent thermodynamic therapy (TDT), thereby addressing the limited thermal stress of mild heating and the therapeutic constraints associated with hypoxic tumor microenvironments. In vitro, IA@PFHA retained its radical-generating capability under hypoxic conditions and enhanced NIR-induced cytotoxicity against CAL 27 cells. In vivo, IA@PFHA combined with NIR irradiation achieved greater tumor growth inhibition than the AIPH-free hydrogel and free formulation, despite comparable photothermal responses among ICG-containing groups. Overall, this study demonstrates a polypseudorotaxane-based polymeric hydrogel platform that integrates complementary photothermal and oxygen-independent radical-generating functions within an injectable network, highlighting the potential of dynamic polymeric network design for localized combination therapy for OSCC.
Related
- Ti@TiO2/Ni nanocomposite for efficient photothermal hydrogen production
- Recent Advances in Nanocomposite Hydrogel Sensors for Healthcare Applications: Fabrication Techniques, Multifunctionality and Challenges
- Peptide–AuNP–drug conjugate-integrated photocrosslinkable hydrogel with pH/glutathione dual-responsive drug delivery and NIR-triggered heating for combined chemo-photothermal treatment
- Tailoring the viscoelastic properties of injectable biocomposites: A spectroscopic assessment of the interactions between organic carriers and bioactive glass particles
- Infrared Photothermal Heterodyne Imaging in Thermally Thick Medium for Thermo-optic Property Characterizations
BibTeX
@article{chen2026injectable,
title = {{Injectable Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Enhanced Mild Photothermal Therapy of Oral Cancer via Oxygen-Independent Thermodynamic Therapy}},
author = {Wenjuan Chen and Hui Lv and Xiaoyan Zhang and Jun Zhang},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/polym18212767},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2767},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Injectable Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Enhanced Mild Photothermal Therapy of Oral Cancer via Oxygen-Independent Thermodynamic Therapy
AU - Wenjuan Chen
AU - Hui Lv
AU - Xiaoyan Zhang
AU - Jun Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18212767
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2767
AB - Polypseudorotaxane-based polymeric networks provide a versatile framework for constructing injectable hydrogels with dynamic assembly and multifunctional therapeutic capabilities. Herein, we developed an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel (IA@PFHA) based on a polypseudorotaxane network formed through host–guest assembly of α-cyclodextrin-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-αCD) and indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded Pluronic F127 nanoparticles (ICG@PF127), with 2,2′-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH) incorporated as an oxygen-independent radical initiator. The resulting network enabled the co-incorporation of ICG and AIPH while exhibiting shear-thinning injectability, providing a polymeric platform for localized integration of photothermal and radical-generating functions. Upon 808 nm irradiation, IA@PFHA generated mild hyperthermia below 45 °C while promoting AIPH-derived radical generation. This design integrates mild photothermal therapy (m-PTT) with oxygen-independent thermodynamic therapy (TDT), thereby addressing the limited thermal stress of mild heating and the therapeutic constraints associated with hypoxic tumor microenvironments. In vitro, IA@PFHA retained its radical-generating capability under hypoxic conditions and enhanced NIR-induced cytotoxicity against CAL 27 cells. In vivo, IA@PFHA combined with NIR irradiation achieved greater tumor growth inhibition than the AIPH-free hydrogel and free formulation, despite comparable photothermal responses among ICG-containing groups. Overall, this study demonstrates a polypseudorotaxane-based polymeric hydrogel platform that integrates complementary photothermal and oxygen-independent radical-generating functions within an injectable network, highlighting the potential of dynamic polymeric network design for localized combination therapy for OSCC.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -