Hydrogels are innovative materials characterized by a water-swollen, crosslinked polymeric network capable of retaining substantial amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity. Their unique ability to swell or contract in response to environmental stimuli makes them integral to biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Among these, “smart” hydrogels, sensitive to stimuli such as pH, temperature, and light, showcase reversible transitions between liquid and semi-solid states. Thermoresponsive hydrogels, exemplified by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), are particularly notable for their sensitivity to temperature changes, transitioning near their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of approximately 32 °C in water. Structurally, PNIPAM-based hydrogels (PNIPAM-HYDs) are chemically versatile, allowing for modifications that enhance biocompatibility and functional adaptability. These properties enable their application in diverse therapeutic areas such as cancer therapy, phototherapy, wound healing, and tissue engineering. In this review, the unique properties and behavior of smart PNIPAM are explored, with an emphasis on diverse synthesis methods and a brief note on biocompatibility. Furthermore, the structural and functional modifications of PNIPAM-HYDs are detailed, along with their biomedical applications in cancer therapy, phototherapy, wound healing, tissue engineering, skin conditions, ocular diseases, etc. Various delivery routes and patents highlighting therapeutic advancements are also examined. Finally, the future prospects of PNIPAM-HYDs remain promising, with ongoing research focused on enhancing their stability, responsiveness, and clinical applicability. Their continued development is expected to revolutionize biomedical technologies, paving the way for more efficient and targeted therapeutic solutions.

Breast cancer is a significant global health challenge, with rising incidence rates and substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conventional treatments, while effective, often lead to adverse effects and may not fully eradicate cancer cells, resulting in recurrence and progression of tumors. Addressing these challenges requires innovative treatment strategies. Nanotechnology, particularly polysaccharide-based nanoparticles (NPs), offers a promising approach due to their biocompatibility, tunable properties, and targeted drug delivery capabilities. Polysaccharide NPs, including starch, alginate, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan, possess inherent biocompatibility and can be tailored for specific applications. Furthermore, beyond their inherent biocompatibility, polysaccharide-based NPs shown substantial interest due to their natural abundance, ease of processing, and availability from renewable resources, solidifying their role as a sustainable choice for diverse biomedical applications. By functionalizing their surface with ligands, polysaccharide NPs can target breast cancer cells, enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Moreover, these NPs can modulate biological processes relevant to cancer progression, such as angiogenesis and immune response. This review article provides a concise overview of the pathophysiology of breast cancer and the benefits of polysaccharides in drug delivery. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of several polysaccharide-based NPs in breast cancer therapy, followed by a detailed discussion on the role of various polysaccharide-based NPs in breast cancer treatment.