Thermosensitive composite hydrogel incorporated with curcumin-loaded nanopolymersomes for prolonged and localized treatment of glioma

In the current study, in order to augment the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, thermo-sensitive biodegradable hydrogel composed of poly (ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA) incorporating curcumin-loaded polyethylene glycol-b-polylactide (mPEG-PLA) nanopolymersome was prepared. The final objective of this study was to introduce a biodegradable thermo-responsive, injectable hydrogel that can prolong and localize therapeutic effects of curcumin. The obtained results demonstrated that the encapsulation of curcumin nanopolymersome in the thermos-sensitive hydrogel provided the sustained controlled release of the encapsulated curcumin. The rheological investigation demonstrated that the viscosity of the prepared composite hydrogel (20% copolymer solution) was low which made it intratumorally injectable. However, at physiological temperature (37 °C), system was in gel state with good mechanical strength thereby providing sustained release of the encapsulated platform upon intratumoral administration. In vivo administration of the prepared composite hydrogel incorporating curcumin nanopolymersome to ectopic C6 glioma tumor model in nude mice illustrated ideal therapeutic response of the prepared composite platform. The key innovation of the current study was the development of biodegradable, injectable therapeutic-loaded implant to improve the outcomes of glioma treatment while reducing the treatment complications. [Display omitted]