Injectable Thermosensitive Iodine-Loaded Starch-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel for Cancer Photothermal Therapy and Anti-Infection

Although photothermal therapy (PTT) can effectively eliminate tumors, the normal tissues near tumors are inevitably damaged by heat and infected by bacteria, which greatly limits the therapeutic effect. In this work, an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel based on iodine-loaded starch-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNSI) is developed to overcome this problem. FTIR, H-1 NMR, and UV-vis spectra confirm the graft copolymerization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with starch and the formation of iodine-starch complex. Transmission electron microscope images show PNSI polymer self-assembles into regular spherical nanogel with a size of approximate to 50 nm. The concentrated nanogel dispersion is a sol at room temperature and transforms to hydrogel at body temperature. Under NIR laser irradiation for 10 min, the Delta T of the nanogel dispersion approachs about 20 degrees C with excellent thermal stability and high cytotoxicity due to the photothermal effect of the iodine-starch complex. After intratumor injection, this injectable hydrogel efficiently inhibites the tumor growth under 808 nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, it can also suppress Staphylococcus aureus infection in the wound post-PTT due to the release of iodine, which promotes wound healing. Therefore, this injectable thermosensitive iodine-starch composite hydrogel with advantages of good biocompatible and easy preparation possesses potential application for tumor photothermal therapy and antibacterial infection.

Automated summary

An injectable thermosensitive hydrogel based on iodine-loaded starch-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNSI) is developed to overcome the problem of heat damage and bacterial infection in photothermal therapy (PTT). The hydrogel efficiently inhibits tumor growth under 808 nm laser irradiation and suppresses Staphylococcus aureus infection, promoting wound healing.