Thermoresponsive hydrogel for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most commonly used treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the poor stability of emulsified chemotherapy drugs by iodinated oil always leads to serious systemic cytotoxicity. Herein, a composite hydrogel Epi/Etpoil@MC/XG was proposed by stably distributing ethiodized poppyseed oil (Etpoil) and epirubicin (Epi) in the blend hydrogel of methylcellulose (MC) and xanthan gum (XG). Benefiting from its adjusted thermo-responsive and injectable properties, the Epi/Etpoil@MC/XG has been successfully applied in the embolization of the feeding artery for a VX2 tumor model. A blend hydrogel with thermoresponsive and injectable properties was proposed for the stable dispersion of lipiodol and epirubicin, the hydrogel has been successfully applied in the embolization of the feeding artery for a VX2 tumor model.