Stimuli-Responsive Biomaterials for Cancer Theranostics

The targeted therapeutics have been revolutionized by biomaterials. In recent years, various biomaterials demonstrated exceptional promise in healthcare, enhancing diagnosis and treatment and offering improved efficacy, safety, and precision. As a result, numerous biomaterials have been extensively researched and developed, facilitating notable improvements in the effective treatment and diagnosis of diseases. These advanced materials possess the unique features that were designed to respond to external or internal stimuli (temperature, pH, light, ultrasound, magnetic fields, or redox conditions) and facilitate improved imaging capabilities and real-time tracking of therapeutic efficacy. The use of nano-biomaterials in theranostics enables enhanced sensitivity and specificity, resulting in more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for diseases. The emergence of next-generation advanced biomaterials that can detect and respond to multiple stimuli, enabling real-time assessment of treatment outcomes. Advances in biomaterial design, tailored to respond to specific stimuli, have significantly enhanced therapeutic outcomes for multifactorial diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease. This book chapter provides an extensive explanation of biomaterials, highlighting the advantages and obstacles in external-stimuli-responsive systems that have been researched in drug delivery and cancer theranostics. Despite notable advancements in biomaterials research, numerous challenges remain to be surmounted prior to clinical implementation which include the need to scale up production, ensure reproducibility, demonstrate biocompatibility, and meet regulatory standards. Despite current limitations, the long-term prospects for stimuli-responsive biomaterials are highly encouraging, with potential applications in a diverse range of diseases and conditions. Additionally, the challenges and future outlook of stimuli-responsive biomaterials in clinical translation are envisaged.