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0The research details the creation of LTG@RL, a specialized light-driven hydrogel designed to prevent cancer from returning after surgery. Scientists discovered that the fatty acid-rich environment at surgical sites causes immune cells to become suppressive, which helps residual tumor cells grow. To combat this, the hydrogel releases a nanomodulator that converts these lipids into toxic peroxides, triggering a specific cell death called ferroptosis in cancer cells. Simultaneously, the treatment uses rapamycin to reprogram immune cells, turning them into active defenders that restore the body’s natural anti-tumor response. The material’s unique thermotropic properties allow it to become fluid under a laser, ensuring the medicine reaches deep into irregular surgical wounds before solidifying for long-term protection. This dual-action strategy successfully inhibited recurrence and extended survival in both melanoma and breast cancer models.
References:
Zhong Z, Gan L, Gao Y, et al. Light-driven thermotropic hydrogel with nanomodulator enables lipid intervention and cavity delivery for postsurgical tumor therapy[J]. Cell Reports Medicine, 2026.
