Advances in stimuli-responsive hydrogels for liver disease therapy: mechanisms, applications, and translational perspectives

Gan C, et al. Liver diseases: epidemiology, causes, trends and predictions. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2025;10(1):33.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Mak LY, et al. Liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asia-Pacific region: burden, trends, challenges and future directions. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;21(12):834–51.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wang W, Wei C. Advances in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Genes Dis. 2020;7(3):308–19.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ha S, et al. Interplay between gut microbiome, host genetic and epigenetic modifications in MASLD and MASLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut. 2024;74(1):141–52.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Maiwall R, et al. Acute liver failure. Lancet. 2024;404(10454):789–802.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Montano-Loza AJ, et al. Liver transplantation immunology: Immunosuppression, rejection, and immunomodulation. J Hepatol. 2023;78(6):1199–215.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Tang Z, et al. Intelligent Hydrogel-Assisted Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. Res (Wash D C). 2024;7:0477.

CAS  Google Scholar 

Richbourg N, et al. Model-based modular hydrogel design. Nat Reviews Bioeng. 2024;2(7):575–87.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Chen Y, et al. Research advances in smart responsive-hydrogel dressings with potential clinical diabetic wound healing properties. Mil Med Res. 2023;10(1):37.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Cao H, et al. Current hydrogel advances in physicochemical and biological response-driven biomedical application diversity. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2021;6(1):426.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Amirthalingam S, et al. Stimuli-responsive dynamic hydrogels: design, properties and tissue engineering applications. Mater Horiz. 2023;10(9):3325–50.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Khan MUA, et al. Fundamental properties of smart hydrogels for tissue engineering applications: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2024;254(Pt 3):127882.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Hao Z et al. Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Antibacterial Applications. Adv Healthc Mater. 2024;13:e2400513.

Zhang Y, et al. Hydrogel-Based Strategies for Liver Tissue Engineering. Chem Bio Eng. 2024;1(11):887–915.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Li C, et al. Recent progress of natural materials-based hydrogel for postoperative chemotherapy. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2025;246:114375.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Kasinski A, et al. Smart Hydrogels - Synthetic Stimuli-Responsive Antitumor Drug Release Systems. Int J Nanomed. 2020;15:4541–72.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Wang H, Yang L, Yang Y. A review of sodium alginate-based hydrogels: Structure, mechanisms, applications, and perspectives. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;292:139151.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Shen F, et al. Dextran based hydrogel wound dressing with cytocompatible, anti-protein and antibacterial properties for infected wound healing. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;334(Pt 1):148709.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

González-Restrepo D, et al. Silk fibroin-based dressings with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2024;195:106710.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Yuan N, et al. Chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid and other novel multifunctional hydrogel dressings for wound healing: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023;240:124321.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Zhang X, et al. Chitosan-based self-healing hydrogel dressing for wound healing. Adv Colloid Interface Sci. 2024;332:103267.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wang W, et al. Chitosan-based immunomodulatory bioadhesive hydrogel promotes liver hemostasis and repair. Carbohydr Polym. 2025;353:123268.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Loessner D, et al. Functionalization, preparation and use of cell-laden gelatin methacryloyl-based hydrogels as modular tissue culture platforms. Nat Protoc. 2016;11(4):727–46.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Su H, et al. A versatile strategy to construct free-standing multi-furcated vessels and a complicated vascular network in heterogeneous porous scaffolds via combination of 3D printing and stimuli-responsive hydrogels. Mater Horiz. 2022;9(9):2393–407.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Bucătariu SM, et al. Hyaluronic acid-based IPN hydrogels with trigger-induced thermoresponsive behavior for drug delivery. Int J Biol Macromol. 2026;366:152462.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Liu L, et al. The combination of modified acupuncture needle and melittin hydrogel as a novel therapeutic approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. J Nanobiotechnol. 2024;22(1):432.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Li Y, et al. Acid-responsive contractile hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel loaded with ginsenoside Rg1 for hemostasis and promotion of gastric wound healing. Biomaterials. 2025;321:123320.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Kumari A, et al. Advancement in Sodium Alginate-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Applications and Future Prospects. Volume 27. AAPS PharmSciTech; 2026. 4.

Wang Z, et al. pH-responsive injectable hydrogel dressing integrating antibacteria, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and angiogenesis for infected wound healing. Int J Pharm X. 2026;12:100591.

CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Chan SY, et al. Pectin as a rheology modifier: Origin, structure, commercial production and rheology. Carbohydr Polym. 2017;161:118–39.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Felemban MF, et al. Recent Advances in Pectin-Based Materials for Therapeutic Applications: A Review. Curr Pharm Des; 2026.

Khosrowshahi ND, et al. Oxidized pectin/collagen self-healing hydrogel accelerated the regeneration of acute hepatic injury in a mouse model. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;304(Pt 2):140931.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Qiu X, et al. Dynamic Schiff-base cross-linked hydrogel deferoxamine-loaded microspheres for microenvironment-responsive drug release to promote chronic diabetic wound healing. Biomater Adv. 2026;180:214555.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Rivera-Escobedo LA, et al. pH-responsive microneedle patches based on poly(dextran-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogels for controlled drug release. Int J Biol Macromol. 2026;375:153421.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wu Y, et al. Synergistic Photothermal-Chemotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cancer Stem Cells via in situ pH-Responsive Hydrogels. Int J Nanomed. 2026;21:606995.

Article  Google Scholar 

Jitpibull J, Soomherun N, Ratanavaraporn J. Silk-Fibroin-Based Adhesive Hydrogels: Mechanistic Insights and Biomedical Applications A Review. ACS Omega. 2026;11(26):38313–43.

Ma S, et al. Silk Fibroin-Polyphenol Gels and Hydrogels: Molecular Interactions, Gelation Strategies, Responsive Behaviors, and Multifunctional Applications. Gels. 2026;12(5):436.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central 

Comments (0)

No login
gif