Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a prevalent malignancy that afflicts the head and neck area and presents a high incidence of metastasis and invasion. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the survival rates of TSCC patients. The current treatment modalities for TSCC frequently suffer from a lack of specificity and efficacy. Nanoparticles with diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic properties may offer a new approach for the targeted therapy of TSCC. However, inadequate accumulation of photosensitizers at the tumor site diminishes the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT). This study modified gold nanodots (AuNDs) with the TSCC-targeting peptide HN-1 to improve the selectivity and therapeutic effects of PTT. The Au-HN-1 nanosystem effectively targeted the TSCC cells and was rapidly delivered to the tumor tissues compared to the AuNDs. The enhanced accumulation of photosensitizing agents at tumor sites achieved significant PTT effects in a mouse model of TSCC. Moreover, owing to its stable long-term fluorescence and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, the Au-HN-1 nanosystem can be used for fluorescence and computed tomography imaging of TSCC, rendering it useful for early tumor detection and accurate delineation of surgical margins. In conclusion, Au-HN-1 represents a promising nanomedicine for imaging-based diagnosis and targeted PTT of TSCC.
Tongue Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging* ; Animals ; Gold/chemistry* ; Mice ; Photothermal Therapy/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of buccal fat pad flaps on the restoration of maxillary defects. Methods: Nineteen cases with oral-nasal communications and maxillary soft and hard tissue defects ranging from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm-5.0 cm×4.0 cm after resection of the primary tumor foci were repaired with a pedicled buccal fat pad flap, and the maxillary sinus cavity and oral-nasal communication were closed. The survival, healing and complications of the flap were observed during the 3-month follow-up. Results : The buccal fat pad flaps of 19 patients all survived. Five days after the operation, the buccal fat pad flap was dark red with slight edema, and the maxillary defect area collapsed. Ten days after the operation, most of the buccal fat pad flap turned pink, and the collapse was alleviated. One month after the operation, the buccal fat pad flap had no obvious collapse, and its surface was epithelialized, with a shape and color close to those of the normal mucosa. The opening was slightly limited. Three months after the operation, the buccal fat pad flap was completely epithelialized, with no difference from the surrounding tissue, and the opening was approximately 3 transverse fingers. No complications, such as swelling and necrosis of the buccal fat pad flap, limitation of mouth opening, maxillary sinus fistulas, oral-nasal communications and facial changes occurred in 19 patients within 3 months after the operation. Conclusion The application of a buccal fat pad flap has a good effect to repair maxillary tissue defects and close oral maxillary sinus communication with diameters less than 5 cm, so it can be widely used in the clinic.