ABSTRACT
Imaging is an integral and prominent part of biomedical sciences. Technological advancements in materials and nanotechnology have put multifunctional theranostic units on the horizon. This chapter deals with the usage of hydrogels and their imaging applications in various biological systems. This chapter first describes the properties of hydrogels and how they can be optimized to be used for imaging applications. Then the focus shifts to the utilization of hydrogels for imaging in drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, tumor detection, intercellular imaging, and tissue engineering imaging. Further, to conclude, the outlook and our perspective on the future application of hydrogels in optics for diagnostics and therapeutics applications are presented.
