Yue Wanrong, Zhu Xiaoyu, Wu Ming, Qiang Wenyue, Yang Yixin, Zhang Ziyun, Wang Youwei, Teng Yuanyin, Zhou Mi
Department of Pathology, People's Hospital of Guilin, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
The Third Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical College, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.
PeerJ. 2025 Jul 8;13:e19609. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19609. eCollection 2025.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical factor influencing the initiation, growth, and spread of solid tumors. Recent advancements highlight biomaterial-based responsive hydrogels as promising smart materials within the TME owing to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sensitivity to various stimuli. This review details the fundamental properties, preparation techniques, and diverse applications of responsive hydrogels, specifically within the TME. Key applications include their use in targeted tumor therapy, controlled drug delivery, and modulation of the complex TME. Recent studies have shown how these hydrogels, by responding to environmental factors such as pH, temperature, or specific biomolecules, can enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Additionally, challenges are identified in terms of hydrogel design, safety, and clinical translation, with future directions aimed at optimizing hydrogel interactions with tumor-specific conditions. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the current landscape, shedding light on the potential and ongoing research in the field of hydrogel-mediated cancer therapy.
肿瘤微环境（TME）是影响实体瘤发生、生长和扩散的关键因素。最近的进展突出了基于生物材料的响应性水凝胶，因其具有高生物相容性、可生物降解性以及对各种刺激的敏感性，而成为肿瘤微环境中颇具前景的智能材料。本综述详细介绍了响应性水凝胶的基本特性、制备技术及其在肿瘤微环境中的各种应用。关键应用包括其在靶向肿瘤治疗、可控药物递送以及调节复杂的肿瘤微环境中的应用。最近的研究表明，这些水凝胶通过对pH值、温度或特定生物分子等环境因素做出响应，可提高治疗效果，同时将全身毒性降至最低。此外，在水凝胶设计、安全性和临床转化方面也存在挑战，未来的方向旨在优化水凝胶与肿瘤特异性条件的相互作用。本综述对当前的研究状况进行了全面评估，揭示了水凝胶介导的癌症治疗领域的潜力和正在进行的研究。
