Cellulose nanocrystal-annealed hydrogel system for local chemo-metabolic therapy of melanoma

A cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-annealed hydrogel (CAH) structure, including doxorubicin (DOX) and 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG), was developed for local chemo-metabolic therapy (LCMT) of melanoma. DOX has been used as a chemotherapeutic agent because of its intercalation into DNA and generation of free radicals. 2DG has been used as a glycolytic inhibitor in multiple metabolic therapies in combination with DOX. Covalent and non-covalent (i.e., ionic and hydrogen bonding) binding approaches between CNC and drug cargo (i.e., DOX and 2DG) were used to tune the rheological properties of the CAH structure to achieve sustained drug release. Reduction of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and mitochondrial membrane potential, and elevation of cellular reactive oxygen species and cleaved caspases 3 and 7 were observed following treatment with CNC/DOX/2DG in B16F10 cells. Glutathione depletion, enhanced lipid peroxidation, and decreased lactate levels were observed in the CNC/DOX/2DG group. After intratumoral injection of the CNC/DOX/2DG hydrogel into B16F10 tumor-bearing mice, stronger tumor growth suppression and anti-recurrence capabilities were observed. These findings imply that the viscoelastically modulated CAH system can be a strong candidate for LCMT of melanoma.