Theaflavin-3,3′-Digallate Encapsulated β-Chitosan Nanoparticles for the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Perspectives
Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of cancer management; however, its clinical effectiveness is often compromised by severe systemic toxicity that limits therapeutic dosing and adversely affects patent quality of life. In recent years, natural polyphenols have gained attention as adjunctive agents capable of mitigating chemotherapy induced adverse effects. Among these, theaflavin-3’,3’-digallate (TFDG), a major bioactive constituent of black tea, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumour activities. Despite its therapeutic promise, the clinical translation of TFDG is hindered by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid metabolic degradation. Nanotechnology based delivery systems, particularly biopolymeric carriers such as chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs), offer a viable strategy to overcome these limitations. Chitosan based nanoparticles provide enhanced stability, controlled release, improved cellular uptake, and favourable biocompatibility, making them suitable vehicles for polyphenol delivery. This review critically summarizes current knowledge on the chemical characteristics and biological functions of TFDG, recent advances in chitosan nanoparticle formulations, and their combined potential to act as a biological shield against chemotherapy-induced toxicity. The integration of TFDG with CS-NPs represents a promising nanotherapeutic approach to improve treatment tolerance with preserving anticancer efficacy.