Research advances in hydrogel-based strategies for thyroid disease management: from diagnosis to therapeutic applications

This comprehensive review examines cutting-edge developments in hydrogel technology for thyroid disease management, encompassing both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. As a promising polymeric biomaterial with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure, hydrogels demonstrate exceptional potential in thyroid disease due to their unique combination of properties: (1) remarkable biocompatibility, (2) precisely tunable physicochemical characteristics, and (3) controlled drug release capabilities. Our analysis systematically evaluates hydrogel applications across the spectrum of thyroid disorders, including (i) diagnostic approaches for thyroid nodules, (ii) therapeutic interventions for endocrine dysfunction (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism), (iii) innovative treatments for thyroid neoplasms, and (iv) hemostasis, wound healing, repair of thyroid cartilage and laryngeal nerve injuries following thyroid surgery. It focuses on analyzing their advantages and challenges in drug delivery, minimally invasive therapy, tissue engineering, and postoperative care. Finally, future development directions for hydrogels in the field of thyroid disease are discussed.