Advancements and Prospects of pH-Responsive Hydrogels in Biomedicine
Ke Gao, Ke Xu
Abstract
As an intelligent polymer material, pH-sensitive hydrogels exhibit the capability to dynamically sense alterations in ambient pH levels and subsequently initiate corresponding physical or chemical responses, including swelling, contraction, degradation, or ion exchange. Given the significant pH variations inherent in human pathophysiological microenvironments, particularly in tumor tissues, inflammatory lesions, and the gastrointestinal system, these smart materials demonstrate remarkable application potential across diverse domains such as targeted drug delivery systems, regenerative medicine engineering, biosensing, and disease diagnostics. Recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology and precision medicine have substantially propelled advancements in the design and application of pH-responsive hydrogels. This review systematically elaborates on the current research progress and future challenges regarding pH-responsive hydrogels in biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on their stimulus-response mechanisms, fabrication methodologies, multifunctional integration strategies, and application scenarios.