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Review
. 2024 Aug 14;10(8):535.
doi: 10.3390/gels10080535.

Harnessing Biopolymer Gels for Theranostic Applications: Imaging Agent Integration and Real-Time Monitoring of Drug Delivery

Pranita Jirvankar  1 , Surendra Agrawal  1 , Nikhita Chambhare  1 , Rishabh Agrawal  2
Affiliations
Review

Harnessing Biopolymer Gels for Theranostic Applications: Imaging Agent Integration and Real-Time Monitoring of Drug Delivery

Pranita Jirvankar et al. Gels. .

Abstract

Biopolymer gels have gained tremendous potential for therapeutic applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to adsorb and bind biological fluids, making them attractive for drug delivery and therapy. In this study, the versatility of biopolymer gels is explored in theranostic backgrounds, with a focus on integrating imaging features and facilitating real-time monitoring of drug delivery. Different methods of delivery are explored for incorporating imaging agents into biopolymer gels, including encapsulation, surface functionalization, nanoparticle encapsulation, and layer-by-layer assembly techniques. These methods exhibit the integration of agents and real-time monitoring drug delivery. We summarize the synthesis methods, general properties, and functional mechanisms of biopolymer gels, demonstrating their broad applications as multimodal systems for imaging-based therapeutics. These techniques not only enable multiple imaging but also provide signal enhancement and facilitate imaging targets, increasing the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy. In addition, current techniques for incorporating imaging agents into biopolymer gels are discussed, as well as their role in precise drug delivery and monitoring.

Keywords: biopolymer gel; imaging agent; real-time monitoring.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Theranostic applications of the biopolymer gel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structure recovery percentage for (A) SPI25PVA inks with (B) different contents of SA (1–3 wt%) and (C) different contents of GEL (1–3 wt%) as a function of test temperature (dark color, 30 °C; light color, 15 °C). Line patterns are used for heat-treated samples (designated with an H at the end of the name).
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of C. crispus, G. gracilis, and G. Corneum 3D gels, with and without LBG addition, under 30× and 250× magnifications.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Properties of biopolymer gels.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Types of imaging agents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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