Scientists Formulate New Hydrogel to Cure Triple Negative Breast Cancer

South Korean researchers at Ajou University recently used antioxidant resveratrol, found in natural plants such as grapes, to create a hydrogel, which can effectively suppress cancer cell growth—a possible cure for breast cancer.

Kim Moon-seok (a South Korean professor at Ajou University’s Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology) conducted scientific research in 2022. Research The possibility of a cure for breast cancer

Kim and his research team developed a hyaluronic-based hydrogel that contains antioxidant resveratrol. This can be used to treat triple-negative breast carcinoma.

What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

Triple-negative breast cancer is a form of cancer that occurs in women who lack estrogen, progesterone or epidermal growth factor 2 gene expression.

About 15-20 percent of breast cancer patients have triple-negative breast cancer, a highly malignant disease with a five-year survival rate—less than 15 percent of all cases. It is most common in young women.

Currently, the primary treatment for triple-negative breast cancer is chemotherapy—the downside of which is that patients can develop drug resistance over time, which significantly lowers the survival rate of this breast cancer.

This is why a new, effective treatment for this deadly form of breast cancer is so urgently required.

What is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a plant-produced antiviral drug. Resveratrol can be found in over 300 edible plants like blueberries, grapes, cranberries and peanuts.

Resveratrol is effective against external trauma, bacterial infections and ultraviolet radiation.

Resveratrol inhibits the growth of cancer cells by activating their self-destructive gene.

Resveratrol has its limitations. It is very difficult to maintain its antioxidant effectiveness for a prolonged period of time due to the rapid degrading of resveratrol within the body.

The Solution

To tackle the issue, Ajou University’s research group injected resveratrol-made drugs directly into cancer tissues to create an organic degradable hyaluronic acid hydrogel that can be injected directly into the malignant tissues of triple-negative breast cancer.

The hydrogel was injected into cancer tissues and improved biostability. It also extended the survival rate of cancer cells.

Research also showed that tumors are smaller after hydrogel injection than when resveratrol alone is used.

Professor Kim elaborated “Through the development based on hyaluronic acid-hydrogel preparations, our research proves suitable for various anti-cancer agents. Other than breast cancer, we look forward to treating various cancer diseases and treatment efficacy.”

He added that the newly discovered technology could also generate a potential and convenient drug transmission system that could minimize cancer patients’ side effects.

Materials Today Bio, an international magazine focused on biomaterials, is available online. Publiziert Professor’s Kim research on Aug. 12, 2022.