Chitosan-based nanotherapeutics for ovarian cancer treatment

J Drug Target. 2019 Sep;27(8):839-852. doi: 10.1080/1061186X.2018.1564923. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Abstract

Chitosan is one of the low toxic and natural polysaccharides which is obtained from deacetylation of chitin. Chitosan-based nanoparticles have good biodegradation and bio-distribution in the biological milieu, which have made it as one of the most attractive nanocarriers for delivering different therapeutic agents to the tumour cells especially ovarian cancer cell lines. Chitosan can covalently and non-covalently be modified and attached to different polymers and targeting moieties through its free amine groups and reach to the tumour site through passive and active targeting strategies. Ovarian cancer is one of the most common and resistant cancers with poor prognosis among women, which scientists are trying to prepare new methods for improving their treatments outcomes in past decades. In this article, we tried to take an overview on the recent developments in different modifications of chitosan-based nanoformulations, which are utilised for ovarian cancer therapy.

Keywords: Modified chitosan nanoparticle; drug delivery; gene delivery; ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polymers
  • Chitosan