Cancer Immunotherapy Using Bioengineered Micro/Nano Structured Hydrogels.

Hydrogels, a class of materials with a three-dimensional network structure, are widely used in various applications of therapeutic delivery, particularly cancer therapy. Micro and nanogels as a miniaturized structure of the bioengineered hydrogels could provide extensive benefits over the common hydrogels in encapsulation and controlled release of small molecular drugs, macromolecular therapeutics, and even cells. Cancer immunotherapy is rapidly developing, and micro/nanostructured hydrogels have gained wide attention regarding their engineered payload release properties that enhance systemic anticancer immunity. Additionally, they are a great candidate due to their local administration properties with the focus on local immune cells manipulation in favor of active and passive immunotherapies. Although applied locally, such micro/nanostructured can also activate systemic antitumor immune responses by releasing nanovaccines safely and effectively inhibiting tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, such hydrogels are mostly used as local administered carriers to stimulate the immune cells by releasing tumor lysate, drugs, or nanovaccines. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in cancer immunotherapy using micro/nanostructured hydrogels with a particular emphasis on their function depending on the administration route. Moreover, the potential for clinical translation of these hydrogel-based cancer immunotherapies is also discussed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.