This type of hydrogel helps burn tumors more precisely and enhances the body’s immune response against tumors.
Hydrogel is a biocompatible material based on metals, hydrophilic, and has a three-dimensional structure that can swell in water without dissolving quickly, allowing it to absorb large amounts of water—thousands of times its dry weight.
Illustration of cancer treatment using hydrogel.
In a study published in the journal Science Advances on August 4, scientists from the Soft and Functional Materials Institute at Dong Wu University reported that hydrogel enhances heating efficiency and limits the heated area when exposed to microwaves—a local tumor ablation therapy commonly used in clinical treatment.
The researchers encapsulated calcium and manganese ions in a small alginate-based hydrogel to generate more heat at a targeted site while avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
According to the study, the large presence of extracellular calcium ions makes cancer cells sensitive to mild thermal damage, thereby facilitating the complete removal of primary tumors. The burned cancer cells then continue to interact with calcium and manganese ions to create effective immune responses against the tumor.
The researchers from Dong Wu University assert that the molecular pathways activated in this mechanism can prevent the development of both metastatic tumors and recurrence.
