4D printed hydrogels for precision delivery of bioactive molecules in cancer

Cancer remains a global challenge, driving the need for improved therapies and delivery systems. The customizable and controllable nature of 4D-printed, stimuli-responsive hydrogels underscores their potential in this context. By engineering these hydrogels to respond to specific tumor-associated stimuli, therapeutic efficacy can be enhanced while minimizing side effects, advancing the goals of precision oncology.

This review examines the types of stimuli used to design stimuli-sensitive hydrogels and their activation mechanisms. It summarizes recent advancements in 4D-printed, stimuli-responsive hydrogels for cancer treatment, assessing their potential, development stage, and limitations. The review also explores future directions, emphasizing the promise of 4D cancer models for drug screening due to their enhanced physiological complexity. Literature was sourced from CAS SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from the past 10 years.

4D hydrogels offer a novel approach to personalized cancer therapy but are still in the early stages of development. Continued research into innovative stimuli-responsive polymers with suitable rheological properties for 3D printing is essential. Among emerging strategies, NIR-responsive 4D hydrogels, especially when combined with temperature-responsive systems, appear the most advanced and promising. Ongoing studies are vital to establish their role in precision oncology and translational medicine.