Livers (Mar 2023)

An Updated Review on Advances in Hydrogel-Based Nanoparticles for Liver Cancer Treatment

  • Bahareh Farasati Far,
  • Ali Attaripour Isfahani,
  • Elnaz Nasiriyan,
  • Ali Pourmolaei,
  • Golnaz Mahmoudvand,
  • Arian Karimi Rouzbahani,
  • Mohammed Namiq Amin,
  • Mohammad Reza Naimi-Jamal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/livers3020012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 161 – 189

Abstract

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More than 90% of all liver malignancies are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), for which chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the ideal therapeutic choices. Hepatocellular carcinoma is descended from other liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholism, and metabolic syndrome. Normal cells and tissues may suffer damage from common forms of chemotherapy. In contrast to systemic chemotherapy, localized chemotherapy can reduce side effects by delivering a steady stream of chemotherapeutic drugs directly to the tumor site. This highlights the significance of controlled-release biodegradable hydrogels as drug delivery methods for chemotherapeutics. This review discusses using hydrogels as drug delivery systems for HCC and covers thermosensitive, pH-sensitive, photosensitive, dual-sensitive, and glutathione-responsive hydrogels. Compared to conventional systemic chemotherapy, hydrogel-based drug delivery methods are more effective in treating cancer.

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