Dual smart monitoring and predictive non-destructive evaluation: A review of advanced hydrogel and stem cell-based strategies for oral cancer theragnostic applications

Authors

• Yasamin Ghahramani, Oral and Dental Disease Research Center (SUMS)
• Nasim Razavi, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences
• Omid Tavakkol, Private Practice
• Mahnaz Gholami, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
• Fatemeh Khandani, School of Dentistry
• Ehsan Khaksar, Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University
• Erfan Khaksar, Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University
• Maryam Derakhshan, Private Practice
• Masoomeh Yari Kalashgrani, Universiti Malaya
• Sasan Sattarpanah Karganroudi, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
• Chin Wei Lai, Universiti Malaya
• Vijayakameswara Rao Neralla, Taipei Medical University
• Wei Hung Chiang, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
• Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

1-5-2026

Abstract

Oral cancer remains one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide, with high recurrence and limited treatment outcomes due to late diagnosis and ineffective targeting of tumor microenvironments. Stem cell-based hydrogel therapies have emerged as a transformative platform, offering enhanced biocompatibility, controlled drug release, and tissue-specific differentiation. However, their clinical translation faces critical barriers, particularly in scaffold integration, cell viability, and long-term functional recovery. To address these challenges, smart monitoring and predictive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies have been introduced, representing a major shift toward personalized cancer therapy. These tools enable real-time and noninvasive assessment of therapeutic progress using responsive nanomaterials and multimodal imaging techniques. Photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorescence analysis are combined with biosensing to monitor hydrogel degradation, cellular behavior, and microenvironmental changes. Predictive NDE supports early detection of therapeutic failure or relapse by analyzing spatiotemporal data using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This review outlines a closed-loop feedback system that dynamically adapts treatment to improve precision and efficacy while minimizing side effects. Moreover, combining smart materials with stimuli-responsive hydrogels allows on-demand drug delivery in response to tumor-specific cues, such as pH, enzyme concentration, or hypoxia. This multidisciplinary approach shows great promise for overcoming current limitations in oral cancer treatment. It ensures accurate, adaptive, and minimally invasive therapeutic interventions and advances the clinical translation of next-generation oral cancer therapeutics.

Publication Title

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

ISSN

03785173

DOI

10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126398

Recommended Citation

Ghahramani, Yasamin; Razavi, Nasim; Tavakkol, Omid; Gholami, Mahnaz; Khandani, Fatemeh; Khaksar, Ehsan; Khaksar, Erfan; Derakhshan, Maryam; Yari Kalashgrani, Masoomeh; Karganroudi, Sasan Sattarpanah; Lai, Chin Wei; Neralla, Vijayakameswara Rao; Chiang, Wei Hung; and Mousavi, Seyyed Mojtaba, "Dual smart monitoring and predictive non-destructive evaluation: A review of advanced hydrogel and stem cell-based strategies for oral cancer theragnostic applications" (2026). Research Publications (2026 to 2030). 241.
https://knova.um.edu.my/research_publications_2026_2030/241

Volume

687