Nanostructure-reinforced multifunctional hydrogels for synergistic cancer therapy

Abstract

Hydrogel-integrated nanostructures offer a novel approach to cancer therapy by combining hydrogels' biocompatibility and tunable drug release with nanotechnology. These nanoplatforms enhance treatment precision and efficacy while minimizing side effects, providing a sophisticated and targeted delivery system. This comprehensive review explores synergistic cancer therapies utilizing hydrogel-integrated nanoplatforms, which employ dual strategies to enhance their anticancer efficacy. These strategies include chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), immunotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), gene therapy (GT), and magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT). Such platforms have the potential to overcome multidrug-resistant cancers, pioneer innovative treatment modalities, and improve patient survival rates compared to monotherapies. However, challenges such as scalability, regulatory approval, optimizing drug release kinetics, and addressing potential toxicity concerns remain, which are critical for assessing their long-term effects and clinical applicability.