Gastric cancer is the fifth most frequently diagnosed
malignant neoplasm and the third leading cause of
cancer-related mortality. Nevertheless, the therapeutic efficacy of conventional surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions in clinical practice is often unsatisfactory.
Curcumin (Cur) has shown promise as a therapeutic agent in prior studies. However, its progress in this context has been impeded by challenges including low solubility, instability in aqueous environments, and rapid metabolism. In this study, we develop
methacrylate fish
gelatin (FGMA)
hydrogel microparticles (FGMPs@Cur) encapsulating Cur via microfluidic electrospray technology for postoperative comprehensive treatment of
gastric cancer. Comprehensive characterizations and analyses were conducted to assess the cytotoxicity against
gastric cancer cells and potential tissue reparative effects of FGMPs@Cur. In vitro experiments revealed that FGMPs@Cur exhibited a remarkable cytotoxic effect on nearly 80 % of
gastric cancer cells while maintaining at least 95 % viability of normal cells in cell compatibility tests. In vivo results demonstrated that FGMPs@Cur significantly reduced
tumor volume to 47 % of the control group, and notable tissue regeneration was observed at the surgical site. These properties indicated that such a
hydrogel microparticle system is a promising candidate for postoperative
gastric cancer treatment in practical application.