Chinese scientists develop a hydrogel to help burn up tumors

1 Chinese scientists have  designed a hydrogel that might have a double effect in the fight against cancer,   burning up tumors more accurately and boosting one’s anti-tumor immunity.

2 The study published on Thursday in the journal Science Advances described the metal-based biomaterial that was shown to enhance the heating efficiency and restrict the heating zone under microwave exposure, a local tumor ablation strategy used clinically.

3 The scientists from the Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials at Soochow University,  enveloped calcium and manganese ions into a tiny alginate-based hydrogel.

4 According to the scientist, this can produce more heat in a restricted, targeted spot and avoid causing thermal damage to nearby healthy tissues.

5 The study said the existence of excess extracellular calcium ions was shown to sensitise cancer cells to mild thermal damage, thus promoting complete ablation of the primary tumor.

6 “Then, those cancer cells burnt to death will further work together with calcium and manganese ions to prime effective innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses.

7 ’’
The paper’s co-corresponding authors with Soochow University, Feng Liangzhu and Liu Zhuang said the molecular pathways activated in this mechanism could suppress the growth of both metastatic and relapsed tumors.

8 The researchers were re now exploring the possibilities of clinical translation, said Feng. (

NewsSourceCredit: NAN