In the race to make cancer treatment more targeted, effective, and less damaging, gelatin-based drug delivery nanosystems (DDnS) are emerging as a highly promising solution. According to a 2023 mini-review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology (PMCID: PMC10070861), gelatin is more than just a food-grade ingredient, it’s a versatile, responsive, and bioavailable carrier that’s redefining how anticancer drugs are delivered inside the body.
Figure 1: Properties of gelatin used in anticancer DDnS (Jiang et. al 2023)
Why Gelatin Works
Gelatin’s unique biophysical properties — hydrophilicity, amphoteric behavior, sol-gel transition ability, and multi-functional surface groups — make it a natural fit for smart drug delivery:
- Targeted release: Gelatin can be engineered to release drugs in response to temperature, pH, or tumor-specific enzymes like MMP-2.
- Enhanced bioavailability: Its high compatibility with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs increases absorption at the target site.
- Lower toxicity: By controlling dosage and release speed, gelatin helps reduce systemic side effects — a major pain point in traditional chemotherapy.
The review outlines how gelatin-based nanospheres, hydrogels, and nanofibers have been used to deliver drugs like DOX (Doxorubicin), MTX (Methotrexate), and 5-FU with greater precision and fewer side effects across various cancers — including breast, lung, colorectal, and skin cancer.
A Step Toward Bioactive Innovation
These developments are not just theoretical. Research-backed gelatin carriers have already been tailored to respond to body conditions unique to cancer microenvironments — such as high glutathione levels or low pH — making them highly suitable for next-gen therapies.
As the field matures, demand for high-purity, traceable gelatin that meets strict pharmaceutical and nutraceutical requirements is rising. That’s where Vinh Wellness steps in.
Why Vinh Wellness Gelatin?
Our gelatin is derived from Pangasius, a clean and underutilized freshwater source with low risk of bovine- or porcine-origin issues, aligning with halal, and clean-label preferences, it offers:
- High bloom strength and film-forming capacity
- Excellent biocompatibility
- Batch-level traceability and sustainability
With these great abilities, our gelatin can support both functionality and compliance.
What’s Next?
The latest research (read it here) proves the material potential — and we’re continuously exploring new ways to push it further.
🔬 Discover more applications of the incredibleness of gelatin with Vinh Wellness.
Let’s co-create the next frontier of wellness and therapeutics.
