Inherent Tumor Microenvironment‐Reversing Hydrogels: Potentiating Molecular Therapy Efficacy Against Drug‐Resistant Tumors

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment is a pivotal driver of tumor progression, highlighting the potential of microenvironment reversal as a promising breakthrough in cancer therapy. However, the current tumor microenvironment reversing capacity through targeted drug delivery remains limited, posing a significant challenge in the biomedical field. In this study, a materials science strategy to achieve an inherently efficient reversal of the solid tumor microenvironment while potentiating molecular therapy efficacy against drug‐resistant tumors is proposed. To construct bioactive hydrogel materials, biocompatible and acid‐reversible nanoclays are utilized as building blocks, and peptide polydendrons are designed as supramolecular cross‐linkers. To drive hydrogel network formation, bioactive hydrogels are capable of reversing tumor acidotic microenvironment, integrating superior mechanical properties, injectability, self‐healing capability, and drug‐loading capacity. Through a drug‐resistant cell line in vitro and a tumor‐bearing mouse model in vivo, the hydrogel materials successfully modulate acidic accumulation resulting from tumor metabolic abnormalities and reverse the acidic microenvironment within the tumor tissue. Remarkably, the tumor microenvironment‐reversing hydrogels effectively suppress tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while significantly amplifying the antitumor drug efficacy. The bioactive hydrogel materials offer an innovative avenue for reversing the tumor microenvironment, displaying promising prospects for clinical translation and applications.