Drug　delivery　mediated　by　hydrogel　has　shown　great　promise　in　controlled　drug　release　field.　We　report　here　the　development　of　a　hydroxybutyl　chitosan　(HBC)　thermo-sensitive　gel　to　deliver　doxorubicine　hydrochloride　(DOX　center　dot　HCl)　for　cancer　treatment.　Concentrated　HBC　aqueous　solution　could　transform　into　hydrogel　within　30　s　after　injection　under　physiological　temperature　in　non-chemical　fashion.　The　properties　of　the　HBC　gels　including　chemical　structure,　surface　morphology,　and　rheologic　properties　were　studied.　Gelation　temperature　and　gelation　time　of　HBC　could　be　adjusted　by　HBC　concentrations.　The　gel　erosion　rate　in　vivo　was　faster　than　solubilization　rate　in　vitro.　The　mild　inflammatory　response　caused　by　implantation　of　the　hydrogel　was　acceptable.　The　DOX　center　dot　HCl　(1　mg/ml)　loaded　HBC　gels　displayed　slow　release　rates　that　were　independent　of　the　HBC　concentration,　and　significantly　reduced　viability　of　4T-1　cells　compared　with　the　HBC　gels　after　1　day　incubation.　These　results　indicate　that　thermo-sensitive　HBC　hydrogels　have　promising　potential　as　an　injectable　drug　carrier　for　pharmaceutical　applications.