Nanoengineered Injectable\nHydrogel: An Advanced Radioprotective\nBarrier with Magnetic Hyperthermia Synergy

Despite its effectiveness in eradicating cancer cells,\ncurrent\ntumor radiotherapy often causes irreversible damage to the surrounding\nhealthy tissues. To address this issue and enhance therapeutic outcomes,\nwe developed a multifunctional injectable hydrogel that integrates\nelectromagnetic shielding and magnetothermal effects. This innovation\naims to improve the efficacy of brachytherapy while protecting adjacent\nnormal tissues. Recognizing the limitations of existing hydrogel materials\nin terms of stretchability, durability, and single functionality,\nwe engineered a composite hydrogel by self-assembling nickel nanoparticles\non the surface of liquid metal particles and embedding them into an\ninjectable hydrogel matrix. The resulting composite material demonstrates\nsuperior electromagnetic interference shielding performance (74.89\ndB) and a rapid magnetothermal heating rate (10.9 °C/min), significantly\nenhancing its in vivo applicability. The experimental results confirm\nthat this innovative nanocomposite hydrogel effectively attenuates\nelectromagnetic waves during brachytherapy, thereby protecting normal\ntissues surrounding the tumor and enhancing radiotherapy efficacy\nthrough magnetothermal therapy. This study advances the safety and\neffectiveness of cancer treatments and provides new insights into\nthe development of multifunctional biomedical materials, promoting\nthe innovative application of nanotechnology in the medical field.