IJMS, Vol. 20, Pages 4671: Hydrogel-Mediated DOXHCl/PTX Delivery System for Breast Cancer Therapy (International Journal of Molecular Sciences)

We used a hydrogel-mediated dual drug delivery approach, based on an injectable glycol chitosan (GC) hydrogel, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOXHCl), and a complex of beta-cyclodextrin (-CD) and paclitaxel (PTX) (GDCP) for breast cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo. The hydrogel was swollen over 3 days and remained so thereafter. After an initial burst period of 7 hours, the two drugs were released in a sustained manner for 7 days. The in vitro cell viability test showed that GDCP had a better anticancer effect than well plate and DOXHCl/PTX (DP). In addition, the in vivo tests, which evaluated the anticancer effect, systemic toxicity, and histology, proved the feasibility of GDCP as a clinical therapy for breast cancer.