Issue 30, 2024

Recent research progress on tumour-specific responsive hydrogels

Abstract

Most existing hydrogels, even recently developed injectable hydrogels that undergo a reversible sol–gel phase transition in response to external stimuli, are designed to gel immediately before or after implantation/injection to prevent the free diffusion of materials and drugs; however, the property of immediate gelation leads to a very weak tumour-targeting ability, limiting their application in anticancer therapy. Therefore, the development of tumour-specific responsive hydrogels for anticancer therapy is imperative because tumour-specific responses improve their tumour-targeting efficacy, increase therapeutic effects, and decrease toxicity and side effects. In this review, we introduce the following three types of tumour-responsive hydrogels: (1) hydrogels that gel specifically at the tumour site; (2) hydrogels that decompose specifically at the tumour site; and (3) hydrogels that react specifically with tumours. For each type, their compositions, the mechanisms of tumour-specific responsiveness and their applications in anticancer treatment are comprehensively discussed.

Graphical abstract: Recent research progress on tumour-specific responsive hydrogels

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
28 Mar 2024
Accepted
04 Jun 2024
First published
06 Jun 2024

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 7246-7266

Recent research progress on tumour-specific responsive hydrogels

X. Zhou, C. Wang, Z. Shen, Y. Wang, Y. Li, Y. Hu, P. Zhang and Q. Zhang, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 7246 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00656A

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