Advancement in Biopolymer Assisted Cancer Theranostics

Abstract

Applications of nanotechnology have increased the importance of research and nanocarriers, which have revolutionized the method of drug delivery to treat several diseases, including cancer, in the past few years. Cancer, one of the world's fatal diseases, has drawn scientists' attention for its multidrug resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs. To minimize the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents on healthy cells and to develop technological advancement in drug delivery systems, scientists have developed an alternative approach to delivering chemotherapeutic drugs at the targeted site by integrating it inside the nanocarriers like synthetic polymers, nanotubes, micelles, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), lipid nanoparticles, nano-biopolymeric substances, etc., which has shown promising results in both preclinical and clinical trials of cancer management. Besides that, nanocarriers, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles, have received much attention from researchers due to their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, treatment efficacy, and ability to target drug delivery by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This review emphasizes the fabrication processes, the therapeutic and theragnostic applications, and the importance of different biopolymeric nanocarriers in targeting cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which conclude with the challenges and opportunities of future exploration using biopolymeric nanocarriers in onco-therapy with improved availability and reduced toxicity.

Keywords: Antitumor; Drug Delivery; Nanomedicines; Nanotherapeutics; Theranostic.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of biopolymers used to overcome the traditional barrier methods from conventional drug delivery methods. EPR enhances tumor-killing activity efficiently.

Figure 2

Graphical representation of different kinds of biopolymers and their working nanosystems.

Figure 3

Liposome preparation and nanocarrier production using film hydration and ion channel methods.

Figure 4

Drug loading activity and mode of action in a cell, with a proper strategic mode of action and representing specificity to target cells.

Figure 5

Biopolymer assisted nanodrug delivery mechanisms: (i) nonviral transfection methods, (ii) nanoengineered MSC methods, and (iii) integrin mediated initialization to the targeted tumor cells.

Figure 6

Biopolymer-based targeted drug delivery inside the tumor cells, explanting the mechanism via different stimuli responsive platforms.

Figure 7

Active targeting of tumor cells in the application of biopolymers with proper delivery of siRNA and mRNA.

Figure 8

mRNA modified biopolymer-based assisted drug delivery: (A) lipid NP with mRNA method and (B) nanoprimer + biopolymer approch.

Figure 9

Biopolymer-based nanocarriers (9–17 nm) are hybrid and contain a combination of lipids as well as genes like (A) cholesterol, (B) gene, and (C) other therapeutic cargo.

Figure 10

Nanoparticles work as functionalized nanocarriers with a combination of biopolymers.