Multifaceted Applications of Chitosan in Cancer Drug Delivery and Therapy

Mar Drugs. 2017 Mar 27;15(4):96. doi: 10.3390/md15040096.

Abstract

Chitosan is a versatile polysaccharide of biological origin. Due to the biocompatible and biodegradable nature of chitosan, it is intensively utilized in biomedical applications in scaffold engineering as an absorption enhancer, and for bioactive and controlled drug release. In cancer therapy, chitosan has multifaceted applications, such as assisting in gene delivery and chemotherapeutic delivery, and as an immunoadjuvant for vaccines. The present review highlights the recent applications of chitosan and chitosan derivatives in cancer therapy.

Keywords: adjuvant; cancer; chitosan; drug delivery; gene delivery; nanoparticle.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chitosan