Research progress and clinical application of stimuli-responsive hydrogels in cervical cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide and poses a great risk to women's health. There is an urgent need to develop a range of effective and innovative therapeutic options to overcome the shortcomings of conventional treatments: poor efficacy and toxic side effects. As an alternative therapy, a number of advances have been made in hydrogel-based drug delivery systems that enable targeted and localized therapy, as well as controlled release of drugs at the tumor site. These advantages can effectively increase drug concentration and reduce damage to normal sites caused by chemical drug toxicity. This paper reviews the progress of research applications of stimuli-responsive hydrogels in cervical cancer. The response mechanisms of hydrogels and the principles of enhanced drug efficacy are discussed in focus. These include thermal-responsive hydrogels, pH-responsive hydrogels, light-responsive hydrogels, enzyme-responsive hydrogels, and dual-responsive hydrogels. It is also argued that through the increasing understanding of hydrogels, it can be used clinically as an effective and durable therapeutic tool.