Common systemic chemotherapy often leads to adverse effects on healthy cells. Localized chemotherapy can reduce the adverse effects while providing a sustained release of chemotherapeutics at the target tumor. Therefore, injectable biodegradable hydrogels as targeted drug delivery systems for chemotherapeutics have shown great potential for treating cancer. This project aims to develop a series of smart injectable gels for localized drug delivery using soy protein isolate (SPI) and oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) loaded with doxorubicin
(DOX) as a model anticancer drug. Dynamic (reversible) imine (Schiff base) bonds, which are pressure and pH sensitive, will be formed between the three components and thus lead to the production of gels. The gels will be injectable because the imine bonds break under injection pressure and thus the gels become fluid-like; the gel state will be restored (i.e., self-healing) in the human body immediately after the injection, securing the anticancer drug inside the gels. The drug is released from the gels in a sustained manner only in a cancerous environment (pH = ~6) while the release is minimal within healthy tissues (pH = ~7.4). The formulation and processing parameters of the gels will be varied, and the drug-release properties of the produced gels will be investigated. Optimum formulations/parameters that are suitable for commercialization will be determined.

The goal of this research is to develop a novel soy protein isolate (SPI)-based injectable self-healing gel that is crosslinked by dynamic covalent imine bonds and reinforced by cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). The gel has high stability in the human body and performs targeted drug release for cancer treatment.

• A novel SPI-based injectable hydrogel for localized chemotherapy
• Understanding of the gel properties-formulation/processing parameter relationships
• Fabrication and application guidelines of the new gel

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Soy protein has shown great potential in biomedical applications and drug delivery systems due to its biocompatibility, minimal immunogenicity, and tailorable viscoelasticity similar to human tissues. Biomedical engineering and targeted drug delivery using gels with minimum side effects are a rapidly developing sector and uses an array of high-value polymers. The global market of gel-based drug delivery system is anticipated to reach USD 10.6 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 7.5%. Exploring the capability of soy protein as a cost-effective, natural, and promising feedstock in this market will enable large-scale and high-value use of soy protein and thus lead to increased use of ND soybean and higher returns to ND soybean farmers.