A review on advancements in the application of starch-based nanomaterials in biomedicine: Precision drug delivery and cancer therapy

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Apr;265(Pt 1):130746. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130746. Epub 2024 Mar 10.

Abstract

The burgeoning field of starch-based nanomaterials in biomedical applications has perceived notable progressions, with a particular emphasis on their pivotal role in precision drug delivery and the inhibition of tumor growth. The complicated challenges in current biomedical research require innovative approaches for improved therapeutic outcomes, prompting an exploration into the possible of starch-based nanomaterials. The conceptualization of this review emerged from recognizing the need for a comprehensive examination of the structural attributes, versatile properties, and mechanisms underlying the efficiency of starch-based nanomaterials in inhibiting tumor growth and enabling targeted drug delivery. This review delineates the substantial growth in utilizing starch-based nanomaterials, elucidating their small size, high surface-volume ratio, and biocompatibility, predominantly emphasizing their possible to actively recognize cancer cells, deliver anticancer drugs, and combat tumors efficiently. The investigation of these nanomaterials encompasses to improving biocompatibility and targeting specific tissues, thereby contributing to the evolving landscape of precision medicine. The review accomplishes by highlighting the auspicious strategies and modern developments in the field, envisioning a future where starch-based nanomaterials play a transformative role in molecular nanomaterials, evolving biomedical sciences. The translation of these advancements into clinical applications holds the potential to revolutionize targeted drug delivery and expand therapeutic outcomes in the realm of precision medicine.

Keywords: Antitumor mechanisms; Starch-based nanomaterials; Structural characterizations; Versatile properties.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures* / chemistry
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Precision Medicine

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents