Nature Biomedical Engineering: The Wuhan University team developed nano hydrogels to regulate oral microbes and enhance the effect of PD-1 therapy

Cancer has always been one of the biggest nightmares in the history of human diseases.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common oral malignant tumor, and its 5-year survival rate is about 50%

Recent studies have shown that regulating the oral microbiota can improve the immune response to oral squamous cell carcinoma, but the relationship between oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral microbiota, and the immune system is still poorly understood

On November 8, 2021, Professor Zhang Xianzheng of School of Chemistry and Molecular Science of Wuhan University and Professor Sun Zhijun of Wuhan University Stomatological Hospital, as co-corresponding authors, published the title: Biomaterial-mediated modulation of oral microbiota synergizes with Nature Biomedical Engineering.

The study found that Peptostreptococcus in the oral cavity can activate the immune system and improve the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Based on these findings, the research team developed a viscous hydrogel (Agel) formulated with silver nanoparticles (AgNP).

First, the research team searched for the correlation between the survival rate of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and the expression of immune-related proteins and microbial abundance in the oral cavity

Based on the above findings, the research team hopes to develop a strategy to regulate the oral microbiota to activate the anti-cancer immune response, thereby helping the treatment of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

After screening, the research team chose a silver nanoparticle (AgNP), which can inhibit the proliferation of other bacteria, but allows the proliferation of Peptostreptococcus

Then, the research team formulated silver nanoparticles (AgNP) into a viscous hydrogel (Agel) to regulate the oral microbiota

Next, the research team tested the therapeutic effect of this hydrogel in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors

In general, the results of this study show that the human microbiota can be adjusted by designing biological materials to enhance the anti-tumor immune response

Original source:

Zheng, DW.