On-Demand Release of Fucoidan from a Multilayered Nanofiber Patch for the Killing of Oral Squamous Cancer Cells and Promotion of Epithelial Regeneration

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma represents 90% of all oral cancers. Recurrence prevention remains an important prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, and the recovery of the oral epithelium post-surgery is still a challenge. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a smart carrier material to realize the spatiotemporally controlled release of anticancer drugs, instead of multiple oral administrations, for recurrence prevention and promoting the reconstruction of injured epithelial tissues. Here, we developed a multi-layered nanofiber patch capable of the photothermal-triggered release of low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF) from the sandwiched layer, together with electrospun fibers as the backing and top layers. The sandwiched layer was made of phase-change materials loaded with indocyanine green, a photosensitive dye, for the localized release of LMWF in response to near-infrared irradiation. We showed that the on-demand release of LMWF was able to kill oral cancer cells effectively. Furthermore, adding acellular dermal matrix to the top nanofiber layer improved the proliferation of human oral keratinocytes, while the hydrophobic back layer served as a barrier to prevent loss of the drug. Taken together, this study provides a feasible and smart material system for killing oral squamous cancer cells together with the recovery of oral epithelium.

Therapeutic potential of fucoidan in dentistry: A review

“…Fucoidan has been established to impact macrophage recruitment and inhibit oral squamous carcinoma cell invasion (56). A multilayered nanofiber patch incorporating fucoidan has been shown to damage oral squamous carcinoma cells and regenerate the oral epithelium (57). It also elevated the levels of mitochondrial superoxide and reactive oxygen species while reducing cellular glutathione levels in cancer cells.…”

Advanced applications of smart electrospun nanofibers in cancer therapy: With insight into material capabilities and electrospinning parameters

“…Biomedical materials have shown promise in curing oral cancer by targeting and inhibiting tumor recurrence. Electrospun nanofibers, in particular, are considered a promising biomaterial for local cancer treatment due to their excellent efficacy in medication loading and resemblance to the ECM ( Liu et al, 2022b ). In the study of Liu et al , they prepared multi-layered nanofibers as smart patches for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.…”

“…Significant adhesive properties in the inner layer of the scaffold (top layer in Fig. 16 ) encourage HOK cell multiplication, which is crucial to damaged zone healing ( Liu et al, 2022b ).

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“…16 Diagram demonstrating the creation of the nanofiber patch, whereby the barrier layer is made of PCL nanofibers, the middle layer is made of electrosprayed PCM microparticles encasing LMWF, and the inner layer is made of PCL/ADM nanofibers. Reprinted from ( Liu et al, 2022b ), copyright 2022 with permission from MDPI. …”