ORGS2-0258
NIR-responsive Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanoplatforms for Synergistic Cancer Treatment
Topic
GS2. Graduate Student Oral Session II: Functional Biomaterials and Cosmetic Polymer Engineering
When and Where
Sep 28, 2026
14:00 - 14:12
Room 102
Session Chairs
Chaenyung CHA
Ilkoo NOH
Jun Shik CHOI
Presenter(s)
Subin Lee (Hanyang University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The field of photomedicine has rapidly advanced as a promising strategy for non-invasive cancer therapy by enabling spatiotemporally controlled therapeutic activation using light. Especially, near infrared (NIR)-responsive photomedicine has garnered considerable attention due to its deep tissue penetration and reduced scattering within tissues. However, limitations such as instability in physiological environments, potential toxicity, and insufficient tumor-targeted delivery still remain to be fully addressed. In order to overcome these challenges, this study aims to develop hyaluronic acid (HA)-engineered nanoplatforms for NIR-activated cancer therapy, thereby allowing improved biocompatibility and CD44-mediated tumor targeting potential.
First, HA-Poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (HA-PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were designed, which co-encapsulated MXene and paclitaxel (PTX), enabling the dual delivery of heat and therapeutic agents to tumor sites. HA-PLGA conjugates were employed as the structural framework to enable enhanced drug loading and controlled release under NIR irradiation, thereby optimizing the overall performance. In vivo anti-tumor experiments confirmed the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of our NPs, with a tumor inhibition rate reaching ~95.7%, compared to chemotherapy or PTT alone.
Second, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-encapsulated HA nanogels were developed as efficient carriers to enhance cellular internalization and minimize side effects for photodynamic therapy. The nanogels were synthesized by Cu-free click chemistry between HA-methyltetrazine (HA-Tz) and HA-trans-cyclooctene (HA-TCO), offering biocompatible polymeric network for improved tumor accumulation. In vivo evaluation demonstrated UCNP-encapsulated nanogels with NIR significantly suppressed tumor progression.
Taken together, these studies highlight a versatile hyaluronic acid-encapsulation strategy for improving the stability, delivery, and antitumor efficacy of phototherapy.
First, HA-Poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (HA-PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were designed, which co-encapsulated MXene and paclitaxel (PTX), enabling the dual delivery of heat and therapeutic agents to tumor sites. HA-PLGA conjugates were employed as the structural framework to enable enhanced drug loading and controlled release under NIR irradiation, thereby optimizing the overall performance. In vivo anti-tumor experiments confirmed the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of our NPs, with a tumor inhibition rate reaching ~95.7%, compared to chemotherapy or PTT alone.
Second, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-encapsulated HA nanogels were developed as efficient carriers to enhance cellular internalization and minimize side effects for photodynamic therapy. The nanogels were synthesized by Cu-free click chemistry between HA-methyltetrazine (HA-Tz) and HA-trans-cyclooctene (HA-TCO), offering biocompatible polymeric network for improved tumor accumulation. In vivo evaluation demonstrated UCNP-encapsulated nanogels with NIR significantly suppressed tumor progression.
Taken together, these studies highlight a versatile hyaluronic acid-encapsulation strategy for improving the stability, delivery, and antitumor efficacy of phototherapy.
