尽管近年来在理解肿瘤细胞的特性和作用方面取得了进展，但由于抗肿瘤药物的显着副作用和不利的药代动力学特征，治疗癌症仍然具有挑战性。近年来，支架、植入物、个性化药物输送系统、定制移植物、细胞片和其他可移植材料等生物材料的进步给医疗保健和医学带来了重大变革。明胶是一种适应性很强的天然聚合物，由于其良好的特性，包括生物相容性、生物降解性、经济性和易接近的化学基团，在医疗保健相关行业中得到广泛应用。明胶在生物医学领域被用作生物材料，用于创建药物输送系统 (DDS)，因为它可应用于各种合成程序。明胶纳米粒子（NP）已被广泛用作药物和基因的载体，特别针对癌症、结核和艾滋病毒感染等患病组织，以及治疗血管痉挛和再狭窄。这主要是由于它们的生物相容性和自然降解的能力。明胶具有多种潜在应用，需要更多的阐明。本综述重点关注明胶及其衍生物在癌症诊断和治疗中的应用。生物材料和生物反应器的进步，加上对生物材料新兴应用的日益了解，在增强肿瘤治疗功效方面取得了进展。版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier B.V. 出版。

Treating cancer remains challenging due to the substantial side effects and unfavourable pharmacokinetic characteristics of antineoplastic medications, despite the progress made in comprehending the properties and actions of tumour cells in recent years. The advancement of biomaterials, such as stents, implants, personalised drug delivery systems, tailored grafts, cell sheets, and other transplantable materials, has brought about a significant transformation in healthcare and medicine in recent years. Gelatin is a very adaptable natural polymer that finds extensive application in healthcare-related industries owing to its favourable characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, affordability, and the presence of accessible chemical groups. Gelatin is used as a biomaterial in the biomedical sector for the creation of drug delivery systems (DDSs) since it may be applied to various synthetic procedures. Gelatin nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively employed as carriers for drugs and genes, specifically targeting diseased tissues such as cancer, tuberculosis, and HIV infection, as well as treating vasospasm and restenosis. This is mostly due to their biocompatibility and ability to degrade naturally. Gelatins possess a diverse array of potential applications that require more elucidation. This review focuses on the use of gelatin and its derivatives in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The advancement of biomaterials and bioreactors, coupled with the increasing understanding of emerging applications for biomaterials, has enabled progress in enhancing the efficacy of tumour treatment.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.