Applications of nanomaterials in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: current progress and perspectives

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignant tumor that affects the head and neck area. HNSCC typically has complex clinical symptoms and is detected at a late stage. Therefore, it is quite difficult to give patients the best possible care and treatment. Faced with these challenges, nanomaterials are receiving increasing attention in the biomedical field due to their unique structural and physicochemical properties. The application of nanomaterial therapeutics has produced innovative HNSCC treatment options that go beyond the constraints of conventional surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In this review, we first reviewed the pathological mechanisms of HNSCC. Subsequently, a detailed introduction to nanomaterials was given, including their classification and definition. Then, the use of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and therapy of HNSCC was discussed, and incorporating the perspective of organoids and clinical trials to increase the feasibility of nanomaterial applications. In addition, we also reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of nanomaterials, proposed the idea of nanomaterial design, looking at how these properties may be used to improve our understanding and treatment of HNSCC. The present approaches for detecting and treating HNSCC can be improved by integrating the special qualities of nanomaterials with the available therapeutic modalities. This will eventually enhance patient outcomes in the battle against this highly invasive malignant tumor.