Recent Advances in the Applications of Biomaterials in Ovarian Cancer

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent biomaterial applications for ovarian cancer, focusing on improving diagnosis, treatment, and research tools.

Contribution

The paper provides the first comprehensive review of biomaterials specifically for ovarian cancer, highlighting challenges and future directions.

Findings

Biomaterials enhance imaging and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Biomimetic biomaterials show improved functionality by replicating natural systems.

Biomaterials are vital for biosensors and tumor organoids in ovarian cancer research.

Abstract

Among the gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer is the most fatal. Despite advancements in modern medicine, the survival rate is abysmally low among ovarian cancer patients. Ovarian cancer poses several unique challenges, like late diagnosis due to the initial vagueness of the symptoms and lack of effective screening protocols. Recently, biomaterials have been explored and utilized extensively for the diagnosis, treatment, and screening of ovarian malignancies. Biomaterials can help bypass the obstacles of traditional chemotherapy and enhance imaging capabilities. They are also indispensable for next-generation biosensors and tumor organoids. Biomaterials inspired by biomimetic strategies that replicate the structural, chemical, and functional properties of natural biological systems have proven to have better functionalities. While numerous review articles have examined biomaterials in oncology, there is a lack of reviews dedicated specifically to their applications in ovarian cancer. This review aims to address this critical gap by providing the first comprehensive overview of the current biomaterial research on ovarian cancer and highlighting key challenges, opportunities, and future directions in this evolving interdisciplinary field.

Figures