Multifunctional Nano-Realgar Hydrogel for Enhanced Glioblastoma Synergistic Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: A New Paradigm of an Old Drug

Abstract

Yihan Wang,1,2 Yizhen Wei,1,2 Yichun Wu,1,2 Yue Zong,1,2 Yingying Song,2 Shengyan Pu,2 Wenwen Wu,2 Yun Zhou,1 Jun Xie,2 Haitao Yin1 1Department of Radiotherapy Central Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221009, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Haitao Yin; Jun Xie, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Realgar, as a kind of traditional mineral Chinese medicine, can inhibit multiple solid tumor growth and serve as an adjuvant drug in cancer therapy. However, the extremely low solubility and poor body absorptive capacity limit its application in clinical medicine. To overcome this therapeutic hurdle, realgar can here be fabricated into a nano-realgar hydrogel with enhanced chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) ability. Our objective is to evaluate the superior biocompatibility and anti-tumor activity of nano-realgar hydrogel.Methods: We have successfully synthesized nano-realgar quantum dots (QDs) coupling with 6-AN molecules (NRA QDs) and further encapsulated with a pH-sensitive dextran hydrogel carrier with hyaluronic acid coating (DEX-HA gel) to promote bioavailability, eventually forming a multifunctional nano-realgar hydrogel (NRA@DH Gel). To better investigate the tumor therapy efficiency of the NRA@DH Gel, we have established the mice in situ bearing GL261 brain glioblastoma as animal models assigned to receive intratumor injection of NRA@DH Gel.Results: The designed NRA@DH Gel as an antitumor drug can not only exert the prominent chemotherapy effect but also as a “sustainable reactive oxygen species (ROS) generator” can inhibit in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) metabolism and reduce the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), thereby inhibiting the conversion of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to glutathione (GSH), reducing GSH concentrations in tumor cells, triggering the accumulation of ROS, and finally enhancing the effectiveness of RT.Conclusion: Through the synergistic effect of chemotherapy and RT, NRA@DH Gel effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of tumor cells, suppressed tumor growth, improved motor coordination, and prolonged survival in tumor-bearing mice. Our work aims to improve the NRA@DH Gel-mediated synergistic chemotherapy and RT will endow a “promising future” for the old drug in clinically comprehensive applications.Keywords: NRA@DH Gel, glioma, inhibition of the PPP, ROS, radiosensitization, synergistic therapy

Keywords

• nra@dh gel
• glioma
• inhibition of the ppp
• ros
• radiosensitization
• synergistic therapy，