NOVEL THERMOSENSITIVE HYDROGEL FOR THE LOCAL DELIVERY OF ANTICANCER DRUGS

Chemotherapies treatment are limited by their systemic toxicity that reduces their use or requires interruption of the treatment before the planned end. In this context, new formulations of anticancer drugs that improve their benefit/risk ratio are needed. The present invention relies on a thermosensitive hydrogel injected in liquid form in the tumour cavity, which jellifies in situ and delivers, locally and sustainably, anticancer drugs. This new drug delivery system is made of approved components and has been optimized in order to be sprayable or injectable via thin catheters. In vivo experiments, in colorectal cancer mouse models, show the regression of colorectal tumours. In peritoneal carcinomatosis, the in situ thermosensitive hydrogel injection reduces the peritoneal carcinomatosis index. This thermosensitive hydrogel will offer a new solution to improve the efficacy of chemotherapies delivery and reduce their systemic side effect. Its optimized physico-chemical properties (sprayability, viscosity,…) make the hydrogel fits into clinical practice. In the case of peritoneal carcinomatosis, the product represents a less invasive alternative to IPCH surgery.

Competitive advantages :

• Maximize bioavailabity of drugs at their site of action
• Sprayable or injectable via thin catheters
• Ease of production (liquid at room temperature)
• Made of approved components
• Possibility to adjust the thermosensitive hydrogel composition to modulate its mechanical propertie

Applications : Treatment of colorectal, gastric and gynaecologic cancer

Keywords : Thermosensitive hydrogel, Drug delivery, Chemotherapy, Gastric cancer, Colorectal cancer, Gynaecologic cancer