Magnetic and pH dual responsive injectable magnetic zeolitic imidazole framework based colloidal gel for interventional treatment on hepatocellular carcinoma

Thermal ablation is frequently combined with systemic chemotherapy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the side effects of systemic chemotherapy on normal tissues limit its clinical application. Herein, we report a magnetic and pH dual-responsive colloidal gel assembled by doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded magnetic ZIF-8 and gelatin nanoparticles for HCC. The magnetic colloidal gel shows improved injectability and high functional particle loading, which could be injected through a 27G needle with an injection force as low as 8.8 N at 150 mg/mL solid content. Meanwhile, this colloidal gel could be magnetically heated and accelerated release DOX under tumor microenvironment, which presents a synergistic therapeutic effect by combining magnetic hyperthermia and localized chemotherapy. Furthermore, this colloidal gel could be manually injected interventional under ultrasound-guidance, exhibiting effective deep tumor treatment effect. Due to the high solid content, suitable injectability, and mechanical properties, the colloidal gel is also a promising embolic agent for transarterial embolization in HCC treatment.