Recent Progress in the Design and Application of Supramolecular Peptide Hydrogels in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Supramolecular peptide hydrogel (SPH) is a class of biomaterials self‐assembled from peptide‐based gelators through non‐covalent interactions. Among many of its biomedical applications, the potential of SPH in cancer therapy has been vastly explored in the past decade, taking advantage of its good biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and injectability. SPHs can exert localized cancer therapy and induce systemic anticancer immunity to prevent tumor recurrence, depending on the design of SPH. This review first gives a brief introduction to SPH and then outlines the major types of peptide‐based gelators that have been developed so far. The methodologies to tune the physicochemical properties and biological activities are summarized. The recent advances of SPH in cancer therapy as carriers, prodrugs, or drugs are highlighted. Finally, the clinical translation potential and main challenges in this field are also discussed.

A review of existing strategies for designing long-acting parenteral formulations: Focus on underlying mechanisms, and future perspectives

“…Supramolecular hydrogels are formed by self-assembly of molecular building blocks termed as hydrogelators through noncovalent interactions such as electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding, metal-ligand, π – π stacking and sulfone-sulfone bonding 124 , 125 . Although supramolecular hydrogels have similar functions with polymeric hydrogels, the network structures formed by them are different.…”

Evaluation of a Model Photo-Caged Dehydropeptide as a Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel

“…Gel formation is initiated by effecting a decrease in solubility to a homogeneous solution of hydrogelator, which can be achieved through a temperature change [4], pH change [5] or enzymatic modification [6]. Peptide hydrogels have found many medicinal applications such as drug delivery vehicles in targeted therapies against cancer and inflammatory diseases [7], anti-bacterial wound dressings [8], 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering [9], skin regeneration, and as extracellular culture medium for the culturing of stem cells and neuronal cells [10]. The peptide capping groups are usually bi-or tricyclic aromatic groups, such as fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), 9-anthracenemethoxycarbonyl (Amoc), indole-3-acetyl, naphthoyl or naproxen [11].…”

Precision Interventional Brachytherapy: A Promising Strategy Toward Treatment of Malignant Tumors

“…Due to its suitable decay properties (T½ =6.73 days, Eb (Max) =0. 49 MeV, Eg=208 KeV [11%]), the half-life of 177 Lu is comparable to that of 131 I without significant decay loss.…”

“…Hydrogels have become a hot research topic in recent years due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and outstanding clinical application value (48,49). Hydrogel carriers have also played an essential role in the study of cancer brachytherapy.…”