Aucamp, MariqueTanga, Sandrine2023-07-252024-05-152023-07-252024-05-152023https://hdl.handle.net/10566/15119Masters of ScienceIntroduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common and aggressive cancer occurring in the oral cavity. Intravenous chemotherapy remains a pivotal part of treatment for the disease; however, these drugs cause debilitating systemic side effects and are unable to permeate into the deep compact layers of tumorous tissue cells. Herein, the intratumoral delivery of doxorubicin using a novel hydrogel blend, of chitosan/k-carrageenan and PluronicTM F127, for a rapid solution-to-gel thermoresponsive transition at 37 °C is proposed to achieve tumour-specific delivery and controlled drug release. For enhanced permeation, a novel monoterpene – limonene with high lipophilicity and anti-cancer effect is combined with the hydrogel system.enChemotherapeutic drugsOral squamous cell carcinomaTumourCancerThermoresponsive hydrogel systemUniversity of the Western Cape