Porous Hydrogels for Immunomodulatory Applications

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-05, Vol.25 (10), p.5152
• Main Authors: Wu, Cuifang, Zhang, Honghong, Guo, Yangyang, Sun, Xiaomin, Hu, Zuquan, Teng, Lijing, Zeng, Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Animals; Biomedical materials; Cancer; Cancer therapies; cancer therapy; Care and treatment; Cellular signal transduction; Cellulose; Crystals; Health aspects; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Immune system; Immunomodulating Agents - chemistry; Immunomodulating Agents - pharmacology; Immunomodulating Agents - therapeutic use; immunomodulation; Immunomodulation - drug effects; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy - methods; Nanocomposites; Nanocrystals; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - therapy; Polymerization; Polymers; Pore size; Porosity; porous hydrogels; T cells; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; tissue regeneration; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105152

Cancer immunotherapy relies on the insight that the immune system can be used to defend against malignant cells. The aim of cancer immunotherapy is to utilize, modulate, activate, and train the immune system to amplify antitumor T-cell immunity. In parallel, the immune system response to damaged tissue is also crucial in determining the success or failure of an implant. Due to their extracellular matrix mimetics and tunable chemical or physical performance, hydrogels are promising platforms for building immunomodulatory microenvironments for realizing cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. However, submicron or nanosized pore structures within hydrogels are not favorable for modulating immune cell function, such as cell invasion, migration, and immunophenotype. In contrast, hydrogels with a porous structure not only allow for nutrient transportation and metabolite discharge but also offer more space for realizing cell function. In this review, the design strategies and influencing factors of porous hydrogels for cancer therapy and tissue regeneration are first discussed. Second, the immunomodulatory effects and therapeutic outcomes of different porous hydrogels for cancer immunotherapy and tissue regeneration are highlighted. Beyond that, this review highlights the effects of pore size on immune function and potential signal transduction. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of immunomodulatory porous hydrogels are discussed.