Injectable Hydrogels for Cancer Therapy over the Last Decade

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Oncology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Injectable hydrogels are gaining traction for cancer treatment due to their tunable properties and versatility.
• Significant research focuses on developing advanced delivery systems for combined therapies like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and thermal ablation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss recent advancements in injectable hydrogel systems for cancer therapy.
• To analyze the structure and properties of natural and synthetic polymers used in these hydrogels.
• To map fabrication strategies and evaluate clinical applicability of current systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on injectable hydrogels for cancer treatment.
• Classification of hydrogel polymers based on natural or synthetic origins.
• Analysis of fabrication techniques and their outcomes.

Main Results:

• Identified a growing interest in injectable hydrogels for multimodal cancer therapy.
• Detailed the structure-property relationships of various natural and synthetic polymers.
• Highlighted diverse fabrication strategies and their potential clinical impact.

Conclusions:

• Injectable hydrogels represent a promising platform for innovative cancer treatment strategies.
• Understanding polymer sources and fabrication methods is crucial for clinical translation.
• Further research can optimize these systems to overcome existing therapeutic challenges.