Hydrogel Applications in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a common malignant neurological tumor, has boundaries indistinguishable from those of normal tissue, making complete surgical removal ineffective. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) further impedes the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and a heightened probability of recurrence. Hydrogels offer multiple advantages for GBM diagnosis and treatment, including overcoming the BBB for improved drug delivery, controlled drug release for long-term efficacy, and enhanced relaxation properties of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Hydrogels, with their excellent biocompatibility and customizability, can mimic the in vivo microenvironment, support tumor cell culture, enable drug screening, and facilitate the study of tumor invasion and metastasis. This paper reviews the classification of hydrogels and recent research for the diagnosis and treatment of GBM, including their applications as cell culture platforms and drugs including imaging contrast agents carriers. The mechanisms of drug release from hydrogels and methods to monitor the activity of hydrogel-loaded drugs are also discussed. This review is intended to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of GBM research. It offers insights into the design of integrated hydrogel-based GBM diagnosis and treatment with the objective of achieving the desired therapeutic effect and improving the prognosis of GBM.