Antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin-loaded laponite/alginate hybrid hydrogels.

Degradable hybrid hydrogels with improved stability are prepared by incorporating nanodisks of biocompatible laponite (LP) in alginate (AG) hydrogels using Ca(2+) as a crosslinker. The Dox-loaded hybrid hydrogels give a controlled Dox release at physiological environment in a sustained manner. Under conditions that mimic the tumor environment, both the sustainability in the Dox release (up to 17 d) and the release efficiency from LP/AG-Dox hydrogels are improved. The in situ degradation of these hybrid hydrogels gives rise to nanohybrids that might serve as vehicles for carrying Dox through the cell membrane and diminish the effect of Dox ion-trapping in the acidic extracellular environment of the tumor and/or in the endo-lysosomal cell compartments.