Thermogel Polymers from PolySciTech: Akina used in development of fluorescent marker for tumor surgery

 

Surgical removal of tumors is complicated due to difficulty localizing them amongst normal tissue. Researchers at National Cancer Center Republic of Korea used PLA-PEG-PLA (cat# AK138) and PCL-PEG-PCL (cat# AK035) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop fluorescent marker gel to locate tumors. This research holds promise to improve the surgical outcomes of tumor removal. Read more: Lee, Seon Sook, and Yongdoo Choi. "Near-Infrared Dye-Loaded Thermosensitive Hydrogels as Novel Fluorescence Tissue Markers." Gels 11, no. 8 (2025): 649. https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/8/649

“Abstract: Accurate intraoperative localization of deep-seated lesions remains a major challenge in minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. Current marking strategies—including ink tattooing and metallic clips—are limited by dye diffusion, or poor intraoperative visibility. To address these issues, we developed and evaluated four thermosensitive injectable hydrogel systems incorporating indocyanine green-human serum albumin (ICG-HSA) complexes: (1) hexanoyl glycol chitosan (HGC), (2) Pluronic F-127, (3) PCL–PEG–PCL, and (4) PLA–PEG–PLA. All hydrogel formulations exhibited sol–gel transitions at physiological temperatures, facilitating in situ dye entrapment and prolonged fluorescence retention. In vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that HGC and Pluronic F-127 hydrogels retained signals for up to five and two days, respectively. In contrast, polyester-based hydrogels (PCL–PEG–PCL and PLA–PEG–PLA) preserved fluorescence for up to 21–30 days. PLA–PEG–PLA showed the highest signal-to-background ratios and sustained intensity, while PCL–PEG–PCL also achieved long-term retention. These findings suggest that thermosensitive hydrogels incorporating ICG-HSA complexes represent promising tissue marker platforms for real-time, minimally invasive, and long-term fluorescence-guided lesion tracking. Keywords: surgical marker; laparoscopic surgery; near-infrared fluorescence imaging; thermosensitive polymer”

PLA-PEG-PLA (https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK138#h)

PCL-PEG-PCL (https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK035#h)

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Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

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