Hydrogel-driven construction of integrated cancer theranostic platforms: from diagnosis to therapy

Abstract

Current cancer treatment still relies largely on stage-specific diagnosis and relatively fixed therapeutic regimens, while diagnostic information, therapeutic intervention, and efficacy feedback are often separated across different time windows. This fragmentation limits the ability to meet the demands of precision and individualized therapy. Theranostic platforms integrate disease diagnosis with therapeutic decision-making and can provide concurrent feedback on, or prediction of, treatment efficacy, enabling continuous assessment throughout the therapeutic course. Hydrogels are soft materials with tissue-like three-dimensional networks whose biofunctional properties permit stable loading of imaging probes and therapeutic agents, as well as controlled release and treatment monitoring at lesion sites. These features make hydrogels promising material platforms for integrated cancer theranostics. This review systematically summarizes hydrogel construction strategies for different diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios, emphasizing how matrix composition, crosslinking mode, and emerging materials influence platform performance. We further examined advances in hydrogel research for precision oncology over the past three years, with particular attention to emerging applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Building on this overview, we summarized the key oncological applications of hydrogel-based theranostic platforms according to distinct feedback modes. We also assessed the major limitations that currently hinder their development and discussed potential strategies to address them. Finally, we examined the challenges that continue to hinder real-world implementation and considered how integration with emerging technologies may shape the future of the field. Overall, this review provides a systematic framework for designing next-generation hydrogel-based cancer theranostic platforms that combine personalization, continuous monitoring, and realistic potential for clinical translation.