This review critically evaluates the design parameters of biopolymer delivery systems, focusing on the optimization of particle size and drug loading capacity and addresses key translational hurdles, including the biological limitations of active targeting and safety concerns like complement activation-related pseudoallergy.
Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology have accelerated the development
of polymeric nanocarriers for cancer therapy, enabling high precision and improved
therapeutic efficiency. Among these, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs)
have gained significant attention, as PLGA is a U.S. FDA-approved polymer for various biomedical
applications.
PLGA has several important properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, sustained
drug-release properties, and minimal toxicity. However, mucoadhesion and cellular uptake of
the delivery system in the tumour microenvironment are slightly compromised due to the negative
surface charge of the PLGA. This issue can be overcome by surface functionalization with chitosan
(CS), a cationic polysaccharide. This helps to improve nanoparticle stability, permeability, and sitespecific
targeting. This also enables targeted delivery of the drug to the tumor's microenvironment.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical composition and key
properties of PLGA, the characteristics of chitosan, and the rationale for chitosan surface functionalization.
Additionally, it discusses various fabrication methods of the NPs, including emulsification,
nanoprecipitation, salting-out, dialysis, spray drying, and microfluidics techniques.
The characterization studies included determination of particle size, zeta potential, and
morphology, which confirm the successful chitosan coating. In vitro and in vivo studies further
demonstrated the potential of this nanoparticle system for controlled, targeted, and biocompatible
delivery of anticancer agents.
This review also provides a comprehensive roadmap of current challenges and future
perspectives along with a survey of recent patents related to this delivery system.
Madhusudan Maity, Niranjan Panda, Subas C. Dinda et al.· Recent Patents on Nanotechno...· 0 citations
The development of efficient and targeted drug delivery systems remains a significant challenge, particularly for active pharmaceutical ingredients with poor aqueous solubility. Among various nanocarrier systems, Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their high surface area, tunable pore size (2-50 nm), thermal stability, and chemical modifiability. This review comprehensively discusses the rationale behind the utilization of MSN as drug delivery systems, focusing on how the type and concentration of surfactants, along with surface functionalization strategies, influence their physicochemical characteristics and pharmacokinetic performance. The synthesis of MSNs typically involves sol-gel processes using silica precursors (e.g., tetraethyl orthosilicate) and surfactants (e.g., cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, Pluronic F127), which dictate the morphology, particle size, and pore architecture of the resulting nanoparticles. Furthermore, surface modifications employing functional groups such as polyethylene glycol or pH-responsive polymers enhance biocompatibility, prolong systemic circulation, and enable controlled and site-specific drug release. Evidence from recent studies demonstrates that MSNs significantly improve drug loading efficiency, enhance solubility and bioavailability, and reduce off-target toxicity. Consequently, MSNs represent a highly versatile and modifiable platform with considerable potential for addressing the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems, particularly in oncology and the treatment of chronic diseases.
Ahmad Ainurofiq, Y. Ramadhana, Salma Aqilah Rachmadani et al.· Recent Advances in Drug Deli...· 0 citations
Stimuli-responsive drug-delivery systems (SRDDS) have transformed precision medicine by enabling spatiotemporal control over therapeutic release, significantly reducing off-target toxicity while enhancing efficacy at the disease site. Naturally occurring polysaccharides, such as hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and dextran stand out as premier scaffolds for these “smart” nanoplatforms due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and abundance of reactive sites for molecular engineering. This review explores the versatility of polysaccharide functionalization, detailing how the introduction of molecular “switches” allows these biopolymers to sense and respond to specific physiological triggers. We analyze the mechanisms behind acid–labile bonds for pH-triggered release, redox-sensitive bridges for intracellular delivery, and enzyme-cleavable sequences for bio-catalytic activation. By bridging the gap between molecular functionalization and clinical utility, these bio-responsive polysaccharide architectures enable integrated physiological monitoring and theranostic applications. This review highlights the impact of these advancements in overcoming biological barriers, providing a sophisticated blueprint for the next generation of nature-derived, “intelligent” biomaterials in cancer therapy.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the globe. The conventional cancer
therapies have several drawbacks, like non-specific biodistribution, poor stability, and significant
systemic toxicity. Nanogels are increasingly recognized as a promising type of nanocarrier for cancer
therapy because of their structural versatility, biocompatibility, and remarkable drug-loading
efficiency. As cross-linked polymeric hydrogel nanoparticles, they offer multiple benefits, including
enhancing the solubility of hydrophobic drugs, enabling controlled and stimulus-responsive release,
improving tumour-specific delivery through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect,
and reducing systemic toxicity. Recent progress in nanogel engineering has introduced smart
modifications such as pH-, temperature-, enzyme-, and redox-responsive designs, which allow exact
and localized drug release within the tumor microenvironment. The present review provides a
comprehensive overview of nanogels, their types, and effects on various types of cancers.
Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Samina Sultana, M. A. Laskar et al.· Current Cancer Therapy Revie...· 0 citations
Abstract Background and purpose From the early use of liposomes in the 1960s to modern nucleic acid delivery platforms, nanotechnology has shown its value in drug delivery and diagnostic applications. A wide range of nanostructures has been investigated for drug delivery, including inorganic, polymeric and lipid-based nanomaterials. While some of these nanomaterials have reached more advanced stages of clinical development, some even reaching commercialization, new alternatives are continuously being explored. Approach This review describes the different categories of nanomaterials being used as nanocarriers and provides concrete representative examples of commercially approved products. Key results Current trends of nanotechnology developments in the pharmaceutical market largely focus on the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, central nervous system disorders and cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, lipid nanoparticle platforms are gaining relevance in current development pipelines. However, some of the main challenges limiting clinical translation include manufacturability, scale-up, long-term stability, regulatory uncertainty, intellectual property issues and the lack of representative preclinical study models. Conclusion Nanotechnology has become a fundamental breakthrough in medicine, especially for advanced therapies such as gene silencing or gene editing alternatives. All things considered, no universal nanocarrier fits all biomedical applications; the evolution of the field depends on several platforms demonstrating their individual potential.
Ronny Vargas, Fabiola Martos-Kikut, Noelia Martínez-Martínez et al.· ADMET and DMPK· 0 citations