Hydrogel-Based Delivery of Ion Channel Modulators for Cancer Therapy: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

Cancer remains one of the deadliest health problems worldwide. Traditional and multifaceted treatment approaches often fail to achieve expected outcomes. Consequently, it is essential to develop innovative and effective treatment strategies. Ion channels play a critical role in regulating fundamental cellular events, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death. In this context, the current literature increasingly demonstrates the potential of ion channel modulators to suppress tumor growth. Approaches targeting ion channels have gained increasing importance in cancer research in recent years. Drug delivery systems, particularly hydrogels, play crucial roles in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these agents. This review addresses the current developments in the antitumor effects of ion channel modulators within the context of hydrogel-based delivery strategies. Considering the pharmacokinetic advantages, controlled release properties, and targeted delivery capacity of these systems, their biocompatibility, stability, and limitations in clinical applications are also evaluated. Thus, innovative perspectives are presented to address the shortcomings in current cancer treatment approaches.