Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
09:39
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
8.2K
Injectable Hydrogel as a Unique Platform for Antitumor Therapy Targeting Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment
Yushuai Liu1, Yuanyuan Geng2, Beilei Yue2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Frontiers in Immunology
|February 3, 2022
Summary
Injectable hydrogels can overcome challenges in cancer immunotherapy by targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This approach enhances immune response against tumors while minimizing side effects.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy shows promise but faces challenges like resistance and adverse effects.
- The tumor microenvironment significantly influences immunotherapy efficacy.
- Injectable hydrogels offer advantages as drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of injectable hydrogels for targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
- To highlight hydrogels as a platform for improving cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on injectable hydrogels in cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of hydrogel properties relevant to drug delivery and tumor microenvironment modulation.
Main Results:
- Injectable hydrogels provide biocompatible, biodegradable, and minimally invasive drug delivery.
- Hydrogels enable controlled release and high drug loading for therapeutic agents.
- Hydrogels can be engineered to target and modify the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- Injectable hydrogels represent a versatile platform for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
- Targeting the tumor microenvironment with hydrogels can overcome immunotherapy resistance.
- Hydrogel-based strategies hold potential for improving patient outcomes in cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
711
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
711
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
6.8K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
6.8K