A Brief Review of the Pathophysiology of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer and Applications of Interpenetrating and Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Networks in Its Treatment

• Published in: Regenerative engineering and translational medicine Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 187 - 205
• Main Authors: Jimenez-Rosales, Angelica, Flores-Merino, Miriam Veronica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biodegradation; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Cancer; Chemistry and Materials Science; Drug delivery systems; Elasticity; Entanglement; Hydrogels; Interpenetrating networks; Materials Science; Melanoma; Polymers; Properties (attributes); Regeneration; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Review Paper; Side effects; Skin cancer; Smart materials; Tissue engineering; Cellular scaffolds; Interpenetrating polymer networks; Non-melanoma skin cancer; Biomaterials; Drug-delivery systems
• ISSN: 2364-4133; 2364-4141
• DOI: 10.1007/s40883-018-0061-3

Skin cancers especially non-melanoma skin cancer or nonmelanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) are the fastest-growing type of cancer in the Caucasian population. The costs of these diseases are high, and treatments are invasive or have adverse effects. Currently, smart biomaterials present an alternative for adequate treatment for better dose control, higher cell-specify and less side effects. Interpenetrating and semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, which include hydrogels, are smart materials composed of the entanglement of two or more polymers. These biomaterials possess with tuneable properties including elasticity, biocompatibility and biodegradation, and therefore are ideal materials for artificial scaffolds for tissue regeneration, and controlled drug delivery systems, both of which have important applications in skin cancer. The overall idea of this text is to present the factors that trigger the development and current treatment of NMSC. Also, it is discussed what biomaterials such as interpenetrating polymer networks are, their properties and advantages, and the new role that are playing in the treatment for NMSC and other pathologies. Lay Summary Nom-melanoma skin cancer is increasing its incidence worldwide and this trend is expected to continue. Treatment is expensive and either invasive or presents adverse effects. Interpenetrating and semi-interpenetrating polymer networks are smart biomaterials with tuneable properties that can be used to improve the treatment of these cancers and other pathologies.