| Advanced forms of hydrogels have many inherently desirable properties and can
be designed with different structures and functions. In particular, bioresponsive
multifunctional hydrogels can carry out sophisticated biological functions. These
include in situ single-cell approaches, capturing, analysis, and release of living
cells, biomimetics of cell, tissue, and tumor-specific niches. They can allow in
vivo cell manipulation and act as novel drug delivery systems, allowing diagnostic, therapeutic, vaccination, and immunotherapy methods. In the present
review of multitasking hydrogels, new approaches and devices classified into
point-of-care testing (POCT), microarrays, single-cell/rare cell approaches, artificial membranes, biomimetic modeling systems, nanodoctors, and microneedle
patches are summarized. The potentials and application of each format are
critically discussed, and some limitations are highlighted. Finally, how hydrogels
can enable an “all-in-one platform” to play a key role in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of inflammatory, degenerative, genetic, and
metabolic diseases is being looked forward to. |