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Engineered Protein Photo-Thermal Hydrogels for Outstanding In Situ Tongue Cancer Therapy
Juanjuan Su1,2, Shuang Lu1, Shengjie Jiang3
1State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China.
Abstract:
Surgical excision is the main choice for tongue cancer treatment. However, the physiological functions of oral and maxillofacial regions might be severely impaired and high risk of tongue tumor recurrence cannot be avoided. It is thus becoming urgently important to develop alternative strategies for tongue cancer therapy. In this regard, a new class of near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive and peritumoral injectable hydrogel is fabricated with extraordinary photothermal therapy (PTT) for in situ tongue tumors. The as-prepared soft material exhibits good biocompatibility and ultra-strong photothermal effect due to the formed network by negatively charged proteins, chitosan molecules, and Ag3 AuS2 nanoparticles (NPs). In a well-constructed in situ tongue tumor model, tumors can be efficiently eradicated by one-time PTT treatment. Importantly, there are no side effects on surrounding normal tissues and potential tumor recurrence is inhibited. In stark contrast to traditional surgical excision, such biomaterials hold great potential for clinical treatment of oral cancers.
Insights
A novel injectable hydrogel offers a new treatment for tongue cancer. This near-infrared light-activated therapy effectively destroys tumors with no harm to healthy tissue, preventing recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Surgical excision is the primary treatment for tongue cancer, but often leads to functional deficits and high recurrence rates.
- There is an urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies for oral cancers.
- Current treatments can cause severe impairment to oral and maxillofacial functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an alternative tongue cancer therapy using a novel biomaterial.
- To investigate the efficacy of a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive hydrogel for photothermal therapy (PTT).
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and therapeutic potential of the hydrogel in an in situ tongue tumor model.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a NIR light-responsive, peritumoral injectable hydrogel.
- Incorporation of Ag3AuS2 nanoparticles (NPs) within a protein and chitosan network.
- Evaluation of hydrogel biocompatibility and photothermal effect.
- Assessment of tumor eradication, side effects, and recurrence inhibition in an in situ tongue tumor model.
Main Results:
- The hydrogel demonstrated good biocompatibility and a strong photothermal effect.
- A single PTT treatment using the hydrogel efficiently eradicated tumors in the in situ model.
- No adverse side effects were observed in surrounding normal tissues.
- The treatment successfully inhibited potential tumor recurrence.
Conclusions:
- The developed NIR-responsive hydrogel is a promising alternative to surgical excision for tongue cancer.
- This injectable biomaterial offers effective in situ tumor eradication with minimal side effects.
- The strategy holds significant potential for the clinical treatment of oral cancers.
