Advances in hydrogels for capturing and neutralizing inflammatory cytokines

Inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the inflammatory response, and their aberrant expression and overproduction are closely associated with the development of many diseases. However, traditional inflammation treatment strategies are often accompanied by serious side effects, limiting their widespread use. In recent years, hydrogel, as a material with a three-dimensional network structure, good biocompatibility and modulability, has great potential for trapping and neutralizing inflammatory factors. Hydrogels can capture and neutralize inflammatory cytokines through various mechanisms such as electrostatic interactions, coupling with cytokine antibodies or binding nanoparticles. In addition, hydrogel microspheres, an important form of hydrogels, have excellent broad-spectrum binding of inflammatory cytokines in combination schemes with cell membranes. This article reviews recent research advances in hydrogel capture and neutralization of inflammatory cytokines, discussing the advantages of various mechanisms and their applications in different diseases. Overall, we believe that hydrogels are expected to further advance the development of therapeutic modalities for inflammatory diseases in the future.