Using functionalized particles for treatment of cancer is advantageous because they can access remote parts of the body and is minimally invasive. However, current chemical and biological methods still face challenges. A novel approach that uses the physical force of stimuli-responsive hydrogels is introduced. Temperature-responsive hydrogels were coated with cell-adherent molecules. After attaching cancer cells on its surface and changing the temperature, the force of the expanding stimuli-responsive hydrogel ruptures the cells. Comparing to other chemical and biological methods, this physical approach may be conceptually simpler, technically easier to implement, and more general for different types of cancer cells.
- Yan Fang
- Jiajun Tan
- Siowling Soh
