A novel thermoresponsive nano carrier matrix of hyaluronic acid, methotrexate and chitosan to target the cluster of differentiation 44 receptors in tumors

Hyaluronic acid as a tumor progression agent and a potential chemotherapeutic biomolecule against cancer: A review on its dual role

Hyaluronic acid is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix of vertebrate tissue that provides mechanical support to cells and acts as a mediator in regulation of necessary biochemical process essential for maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The variation in quantity of hyaluronic acid content in tissues is often associated with different pathological conditions. It is associated with tumor aggression and progression as it plays crucial role in regulating different aspects of tumorigenesis and several defined hallmarks of cancer. It assists in tumor progression by undergoing extracellular remodeling to establish tumor microenvironment which restricts the delivery of cytotoxic drugs to neoplastic cells due to increase in interstitial pressure. Hyaluronic acid catabolic and anabolic genes and low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid play significant role in the establishing tumor microenvironment by assisting in cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion. On the other hand, it is also used as an effective drug-delivery platform in cancer therapies as its biocompatibility and biodegradability lower the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs and increase drug retention. High-molecular weight hyaluronic acid-bioconjugates specifically bind with hyaladherins, facilitating targeted drug delivery and also exert anti-inflammatory properties. This review also highlights the market and patent trends in the development of effective chemotherapeutic hyaluronic acid formulations and the current scenario regarding clinical trials.

Weaponizing chitosan and its derivatives in the battle against lung cancer

Lung cancer (LC) is a crisis of catastrophic proportions. It is a global problem and urgently requires a solution. The classic chemo drugs are lagging behind as they lack selectivity, where their side effects are spilled all over the body, and these adverse effects would be terribly tragic for LC patients. Therefore, they could make a bad situation worse, inflict damage on normal cells, and inflict pain on patients. Since our confidence in classic drugs is eroding, chitosan can offer a major leap forward in LC therapy. It can provide the backbone and the vehicle that enable chemo drugs to penetrate the hard shell of LC. It could be functionalized in a variety of ways to deliver a deadly payload of toxins to kill the bad guys. It is implemented in formulation of polymeric NPs, lipidic NPs, nanocomposites, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and phototherapeutic agents. This review is a pretty clear proof of chitosan's utility as a weapon in battling LC. Chitosan-based formulations could work effectively to kill LC cells. If a researcher is looking for a vehicle for medication for LC therapy, chitosan can be an appropriate choice.

Clinical Applicable Carboxymethyl Chitosan with Gel-Forming and Stabilizing Properties Based on Terminal Sterilization Methods of Electron Beam Irradiation

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-based hydrogels have great potential for clinical applications, but a critical sterilization process must be addressed to bring them to market. Compared to ethylene oxide sterilization or heat sterilization, irradiation sterilization avoids alkylation and heat damage, while available studies on γ-irradiated other polysaccharides show that solution polysaccharides are susceptible to degradation or cross-linking. Aiming at the challenges brought by the γ-irradiation process of polysaccharide aqueous solution, this paper innovatively proposes the lyophilized CMC using electron beam (EB) irradiation, which not only avoids the generation of free radicals in the irradiated water leading to the degradation and cross-linking of polysaccharides but also retains the properties of CMC in terms of gel formation, stabilization, and clinical application. We used FTIR, TG, GPC, and microbial load tests to demonstrate that lyophilized CMC did not have significant changes in structure and molecular weight after EB irradiation, complied with the requirements for sterilization, and still had gel stability, thus proving that lyophilized CMC could be used for EB irradiation and met the requirements for clinical application. Therefore, this work is expected to further advance CMC injectable hydrogels toward clinical applications and provide a new direction for the sterilization processes of other polysaccharide hydrogels.

Emerging natural polymer-based architectured nanotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer

The field of cancer therapy is advancing rapidly, placing a crucial emphasis on innovative drug delivery systems. The increasing global impact of cancer highlights the need for creative therapeutic strategies. Natural polymer-based nanotherapeutics have emerged as a captivating avenue in this pursuit, drawing substantial attention due to their inherent attributes. These attributes include biodegradability, biocompatibility, negligible toxicity, extended circulation time, and a wide range of therapeutic payloads. The unique size, shape, and morphological characteristics of these systems facilitate profound tissue penetration, complementing active and passive targeting strategies. Moreover, these nanotherapeutics exploit specific cellular and subcellular trafficking pathways, providing precise control over drug release kinetics. This comprehensive review emphasizes the utilization of naturally occurring polymers such as polysaccharides (e.g., chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginates, dextran, and cyclodextrin) and protein-based polymers (e.g., ferritin, gelatin, albumin) as the foundation for nanoparticle development. The paper meticulously examines their in vitro characteristics alongside in vivo efficacy, particularly focusing on their pivotal role in ameliorating diverse types of solid tumors within cancer therapy. The amalgamation of material science ingenuity and biological insight has led to the formulation of these nanoparticles, showcasing their potential to reshape the landscape of cancer treatment.

Hyaluronic acid-based prodrug nanomedicines for enhanced tumor targeting and therapy: A review

Hyaluronic acid (HA) represents a natural polysaccharide which has attracted significant attention owing to its improved tumor targeting capacity, enzyme degradation capacity, and excellent biocompatibility. Its receptors, such as CD44, are overexpressed in diverse cancer cells and are closely related with tumor progress and metastasis. Accordingly, numerous researchers have designed various kinds of HA-based drug delivery platforms for CD44-mediated tumor targeting. Specifically, the HA-based nanoprodrugs possess distinct advantages such as good bioavailability, long circulation time, and controlled drug release and retention ability and have been extensively studied during the past years. In this review, the potential strategies and applications of HA-modified nanoprodrugs for drug molecule delivery in anti-tumor therapy are summarized.