Radiofrequency-responsive Layered Double Hydroxides for Enhanced Arterial Embolization and Thermal Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Recent epidemiological studies show that in China, liver cancer ranks fourth in incidence and second in mortality among malignant tumors, posing a serious threat to human health. The common risk factors for liver cancer are chronic inflammatory infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which lead to liver cirrhosis and eventually develop into liver cancer. The field of liver cancer treatment is characterized by its multidisciplinary approach and the coexistence of various therapeutic methods. Common treatment modalities include liver resection, liver transplantation, ablation therapies, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Selecting appropriate treatment strategies based on the different stages of liver cancer can maximize therapeutic outcomes. Although surgical intervention is considered the first-line curative treatment for liver cancer, a significant number of patients are unable to tolerate surgery due to varying degrees of liver cirrhosis and impaired liver function. The limited availability of treatment options results in a relatively low 5-year survival rate of approximately 18% for liver cancer patients. Liver cancer is insidious in onset, highly malignant, and progresses rapidly. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, having missed the optimal window for surgical resection. For these patients, interventional therapies based on transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) have shown excellent antitumor effects and are gradually becoming essential treatment methods for advanced liver cancer. In TAE, embolic agents are injected into the tumor's supplying arteries via a catheter to block the tumor's oxygen and nutrient supply. Currently, embolic agents primarily include liquid embolics (e.g., lipiodol) and solid agents (e.g., microspheres). However, as a palliative treatment, TAE strug