Intelligent hydrogels for treating malignant melanoma

•Potential options for treatment of malignant melanoma (MM) are being presented by emerging therapies like immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy due to their effective and secure drug delivery methods.•The MM treatment has seen notable progress with the utilization of drug delivery systems based on hydrogels, including focal plastering, injection, implantation, and microneedles.•The review focused on the utilization of hydrogels in intelligent drug delivery systems for treating MM, in conjunction with various therapies. Malignant melanoma (MM) is an extremely aggressive and fatal form of skin cancer that primarily affects the bottom layer of the epidermis and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Early-stage MM is typically treated through surgical removal, while chemotherapy and radiotherapy are common conventional treatment options that come with harmful side effects. Emerging therapies such as immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, biologic therapy, and photothermal therapy present hopeful options for treatment due to their effective and secure drug delivery methods. To address the limitations of current treatment options, advanced methods of drug delivery for subcutaneous MM are being developed, with hydrogels emerging as a promising alternative. To date, significant advancements have been made in the treatment of MM through the use of hydrogels-based drug delivery systems through focal plastering, injection, implantation, and microneedles. Recent research on hydrogel-based drug delivery systems that integrate multiple therapies for the treatment of subcutaneous MM is discussed in this review.