Antitumor/anti-inflammatory effects/tissue healing as an all-in-one therapeutic strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in the head and neck region. The development of innovative therapies that are effective at eliminating tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues due to postoperative complications is crucial. To solve this problem, a gelatin-sodium alginate (Gel-SA) hydrogel containing bismuth selenide nanosheets (Bi₂Se₃ NSs) has been developed, which introduces a "switch" of near-infrared (NIR) light for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to significantly increase the level of oxidative stress while inducing ferroptosis and apoptosis to synergistically treat tumors. Once the treatment of the tumor has been completed, NSs remove a large number of free radicals left by NIR irradiation because of their excellent anti-inflammatory performance and combine with the rich nutrients in Gel-SA to protect and repair the tissues around the tumor. Combining Bi₂Se₃ NSs and Gel-SA is an effective solution for treating NPC, as it ablates tumors while protecting surrounding tissues.