Advances in photo-responsive hydrogel integrated with biomedical materials for antitumor applications

Abstract

Local delivery systems that use hydrogels serve as an effective platform for facilitating cancer therapy. Injectable hydrogels offer a direct means of delivering antitumour drugs to the tumour site, thereby mitigating systemic toxicity and enabling low-dose amplification immunotherapy. This approach has the potential to address challenges associated with low drug utilization rates and systemic adverse effects in cancer immunotherapy. Non-invasive photo-responsive hydrogel drug delivery systems are gaining attention due to their advantageous properties. Through light irradiation, a range of functionalizations or structural modifications can be achieved with these hydrogels. Additionally, hydrogel provides a simple and minimally invasive procedure for diverse applications, including photo-controlled drug delivery, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and other photo-responsive interventions such as their adaptability extends to the realm of photoacoustic imaging (PAI). In addition, the properties of this advanced biotechnology can be modified. This review systematically outlines recent advancements in hydrogel utilization within the domain of phototherapy. We review diverse hydrogel matrix compositions, bioengineering technologies, and corresponding cancer therapies. The aim of this review is to comprehensively introduce the continuous development of hydrogel applications in phototherapy, providing a reference for optimizing experimental strategies.