Polysaccharide Colloids as Smart Vehicles in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Cancer disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and around 8 million cancer-related deaths yearly. Estimates expect to increase these figures over the next few years. Therefore, it is very important to develop more effective and targeted therapies. Polysaccharides are widely used for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to their interesting properties, and can be utilised in the production of nanovehicles for drug delivery, since they frequently extend the half-life and improve the stability of chemotherapeutic agents in bloodstream allowing them to reach the tumour tissue. Moreover, polysaccharide-based nanovehicles are generally expected to increase the therapeutic benefit by reducing the undesired side effects and promoting a more efficient cellular uptake. Here, we highlight the application of various polysaccharides as nanovehicles in cancer therapy, focusing mainly on in vivo applications and describing the main advantages of each designed system in a critical way. The use of different polysaccharides interacting with metal nanoparticles to develop new nanovehicles for cancer therapy will also be discussed.

Bi-Magnetic Core-Shell CoFe2O4@MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles for In Vivo Theranostics

“…However, Gd-based CAs can produce toxic effects, not only in patients with renal impairment, as firstly described, but also in patients with normal renal function, as demonstrated by subsequent studies, in which the accumulation of Gd was observed in different tissues, including brain, kidneys, and bone [6,7]. In the last few years, there has been a growing interest in the development of new CAs based on nanotechnology in order to overcome this limitation [8][9][10][11]. In this sense, bi-magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a very promising option for the development of new MRI CAs with outstanding magnetic properties [12][13][14].…”

Mangiferin and Cancer: Mechanisms of Action

“…Numerous types of nanovehicles have been developed, and many polysaccharide-based nanovehicles have been used for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs, some of which may interact with membrane receptors. (See Caro and Pozo for an overview on the application of polysaccharides as nanovehicles in cancer therapy [ 95 ]). Specialised polysaccharide-based nanovehicles may be suitable for the delivery of mangiferin.…”

Magnetic Nanoparticles as MRI Contrast Agents

“…After intravenous administration, IONPs have been described to accumulate in tumors due to the EPR (Enhanced Permeability and Retention) effect. This passive transport is determined by the high vascularization of tumors, and therefore increased blood flow, together with increased vascular permeability and poor lymphatic drainage [ 261 ]. Efremova et al [ 262 ] developed IONPs for diagnosis of breast cancer in a heterotopic model.…”