Advances in hydrogel materials applied to pancreatic-related diseases

The pancreas is a glandular organ that maintains internal homeostasis through its endocrine and exocrine functions.These functions are vital for overall well-being.However,environmental and lifestyle changes have led to an increasing incidence of pancreatic diseases,including pancreatic cancer,pancreatitis,and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.These conditions profoundly impact the health and quality of life of affected individuals.The existing diagnostic and treatment approaches for pancreatic diseases exhibit limitations and shortcomings,necessitating exploring novel strategies.In recent years,advancements in medicine and bioengineering have fostered multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary innovations,introducing fresh avenues for diagnosing and treating pancreatic diseases.Hydrogels,emerging as a biomaterial,represent highly hydrated cross-linked hydrophilic polymer networks.Their exceptional biodegradability and biocompatibility have rendered them instrumental in various medical applications.Hydrogels,with their macromolecular porous structures,are efficient carriers for drug delivery and controlled release.Hydrogel materials have garnered substantial attention for their unique properties and diverse applications in the context of pancreatic diseases.This article aims to provide an overview of the current limitations in diagnosing and treating pancreatic diseases while highlighting the latest trends and advancements in developing hydrogel carrier materials tailored for these conditions,primarily focusing on strategies for pancreatitis,pancreatic cancer,and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.The article endeavors to give researchers and clinicians a comprehensive grasp of this field,offering valuable insights into prospective research directions and emerging trends.

Absorbable 3D-printed pancreaticojejunostomy device with a dual-layer drug coating for the prevention of postoperative local recurrence of pancreatic cancer

The high local recurrence rate of pancreatic cancer after surgery is one of the important risk factors affecting patient survival.The traditionally used silicone tube stent is not only complicated to operate but also lacks antitumor properties.The purpose of this study was to develop a dual-layer drug-coated pancreaticojejunostomy device.The coating consisted of two layers,an outer basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)coating layer and an inner nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-PTX)coating layer with chitosan as the drug-carrying medium.Due to the diffusion barrier from the outer coating,the release of nab-PTX from the inner layer was delayed and slowed down.We studied the degradation rates,mechanical properties,surface morphologies,drug release kinetics,promoting the growth of fibroblasts and antitumor properties of the coated stents.It was found that 100 ng of bFGF and 50µg of nab-PTX were suitable drug concentrations that can effectively promote the growth of fibroblasts and inhibit pancreatic cancer cells.The results also confirmed that the dual-layer drug-coated pancreaticojejunostomy device showed good antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo without obvious systemic toxicity.In addition,the device has a suitable degradation rate.In conclusion,this biodegradable dual-layer drug-coated pancreaticojejunostomy device can potentially inhibit the local recurrence of pancreatic cancer after surgery and promote the healing of pancreaticointestinal anastomosis.This device has great potential to treat pancreatic cancer in the future.