15 - Current advances on polysaccharide-based nanoconjugates for efficient and targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment

Abstract

Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide and requires an effective therapeutic approach. Several strategies have been developed to formulate a safer anti-cancer drug. Despite the significant advances in the development of new drug delivery systems, it remains a challenge for most of the chemotherapeutic drugs with its narrow therapeutic index, poor water solubility, and slow drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology has emerged as a potential alternative for strategic cancer therapy through the formulation of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery systems in overcoming the inherent limitations of the physicochemical properties of poorly soluble anticancer drugs. Among the polymeric nanoparticles, polysaccharide-based nanoparticles have gained huge attention due to their safety, biodegradability, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and the low cost of the biopolymers. Most importantly, polysaccharides are of a wide range of molecular weights and contain several chemical functional groups suitable for bio-conjugate modifications. The conjugation of a hydrophobic drug with hydrophilic polysaccharide nanoparticles surpasses the barrier of solubilization and regulates the control release of hydrophobic moieties; thereby it promotes the therapeutic benefit by extending the half-life of drugs and potential pharmacological responses. Such nanoconjugate formulations eliminate the local adverse effects and instability drawbacks of many existing delivery systems. Considering the recent advances on several delivery systems for clinical use in therapeutic applications, in this chapter we highlight the current advances in characteristics and applications of various polysaccharide-based nanoparticles for improving cancer therapy. We hope that once the major concerns are addressed, polysaccharide-based nanoconjugate drug delivery strategy will improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer.