Application of MMP-2-responsive in situ forming injectable hydrogel in preventing the recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of cancer. Surgical resection is one of the most important treatments at present. However, patients often suffer from regional recurrence after surgery. Therefore, new strategies for combination therapy need to be investigated. This work identified a smart injectable hydrogel system co-delivering DOX and sunitinib nanoparticles. The nano drugs are continuously released from the hydrogels and effectively taken up by cells. The nano drugs in the hydrogel can inhibit tumor cell viability and induce cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. The drug-loaded hydrogel could control the recurrence of subcutaneous xenograft tumors, prolong the survival time, and have no obvious toxicity in nude mice. These findings suggest that this smart injectable hydrogel system may provide new ideas for the comprehensive treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.