Advances in the Research and Application of Smart-Responsive Hydrogels in Disease Treatment

Abstract

Smart-responsive hydrogels have been widely used in various fields, particularly in the biomedical field. Compared with traditional hydrogels, smart-responsive hydrogels not only facilitate the encapsulation and controlled release of drugs, active substances, and even cells but, more importantly, they enable the on-demand and controllable release of drugs and active substances at the disease site, significantly enhancing the efficacy of disease treatment. With the rapid advancement of biomaterials, smart-responsive hydrogels have received widespread attention, and a wide variety of smart-responsive hydrogels have been developed for the treatment of different diseases, thus presenting tremendous research prospects. This review summarizes the latest advancements in various smart-responsive hydrogels used for disease treatment. Additionally, some of the current shortcomings of smart-responsive hydrogels and the strategies to address them are discussed, as well as the future development directions and prospects of smart-responsive hydrogels.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel based on natural polymers for breast cancer

“…Fabricating stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on natural polymers’ is complex, requiring a variety of cross-linking agents and biomaterials, which enhances their safety and regulatory approval from authorities. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on natural polymer categories as “devices” and the production of their products for clinical uses may require estimates ranging from $10 million to $500 million ( Mandal et al, 2020 ; Cao et al, 2023 ).…”

Biomedical Trends in Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels with Emphasis on Chitosan-Based Formulations

“…In addition to hydrogels responding to a single stimulus at a time, some formulations can react to many stimuli simultaneously and independently [127]. Their preparation is based on cross-linking via covalent and non-covalent methods [128] or combining desired stimuli into existing hydrogel systems [129]. Multiple-responsive hydrogels are superior to single-responsive hydrogels since they provide a more dynamic and controlled response after application, which makes them more adaptable, susceptible to modification, and tailored to specific needs [130].…”

Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Protein Delivery

“…Glucose-responsive hydrogels can be suitable materials for diabetes management based on the glucose levels in the bloodstream. To achieve a self-regulated delivery of insulin, glucose-responsive moieties, such as glucose oxidase, lectin (concanavalin A, Con A), and phenylboronic acid (PBA), are incorporated into the hydrogel system [106].…”