Antimicrobial, Anticancer Drug Carrying Properties of Biopolymers-based Nanocomposites- A Mini Review

Curr Pharm Des. 2018;24(32):3859-3866. doi: 10.2174/1381612825666181120161300.

Abstract

Biopolymers are ubiquitous in biomedical and healthcare application. Its nanocomposites have gained more attention as antimicrobials, a drug carrier, sensors, disease diagnosis, tissue engineering, wound healing, and cancer therapy. These biopolymer composites are efficient in holding, protecting and releasing bioactive drugs such as pharmaceutics, nutraceuticals, enzymes, and probiotics. Several studies revealed a polymer-based drug delivery system in cancer therapy and microbial treatments. However, this mini-review emphasized the source, extraction, and characterizations of the biopolymers and their use in the fabrication of various drug or metals based nanocomposites followed by its utilization as drug carrier or drug to treat the various diseases such as antimicrobial infections and cancer.

Keywords: Polymers; anticancer agents; antimicrobials; biopolymers; drug carrier; drug delivery system..

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biopolymers / chemistry
  • Biopolymers / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Infections / drug therapy*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biopolymers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Organometallic Compounds