Hydrogels as delivery platforms for advancing T cell therapies

Gene-modified T cell immunotherapies, particularly Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment, demonstrating remarkable success in various hematological malignancies. However, their application in solid tumors remains significantly limited, primarily due to poor T cell trafficking and tumor infiltration - caused by physical barriers, hypoxia and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To address these challenges, hydrogels have emerged as promising delivery platforms for CAR T cells, aiming to improve both therapeutic efficacy and safety. In this review, we highlight recent advances in this field, with a focus on hydrogel-based strategies for enhancing CAR T cell therapy in non-hematologic malignancies.