Chitosan Nanoparticles for Therapy and Theranostics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and Liver-Targeting

Abstract

Chitosan nanoparticles are well-known delivery systems widely used as polymeric carriers in the field of nanomedicine. Chitosan is a carbohydrate of natural origin: it is a biodegradable, biocompatible, mucoadhesive, polycationic polymer and it is endowed with penetration enhancer properties. Furthermore, it can be easily derivatized. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a remarkable health problem because current therapies, that include surgery, liver transplantation, trans-arterial embolization, chemoembolization and chemotherapy, present significant limitations due to the high risk of recurrence, to a lack of drug selectivity and to other serious side effects. Therefore, there is the need for new therapeutic strategies and for improving the liver-targeting to HCC. Nanomedicine consists in the use of nanoscale carriers as delivery systems to target and deliver drugs and/or diagnostic agents to specific organs or tissues. Chitosan and its derivatives can be successfully used in the preparation of nanoparticles that, for their peculiar surface-properties, can specifically interact with liver tumor, by passive and active targeting. This review concerns the use of chitosan nanoparticles for the therapy and theranostics of HCC and liver-targeting.

The Potential Cytotoxic Activity Enhancement of α-Mangostin in Chitosan-Kappa Carrageenan-Loaded Nanoparticle against MCF-7 Cell Line

“…The mucoadhesive properties of chitosan can increase drug penetration into cancer cells and suppress drug efflux reactions to maximize the level of drug entering the cells. In addition, chitosan nanoparticles can inhibit cell migration activity in MDA-MB-231 [ 15 ], and improve anticancer activities in HeLa [ 16 ], HUVE [ 17 ], and HCC cells [ 18 ]. The activities of chitosan in killing cancer cells are known to work through the mechanism of induction of apoptosis through activation of caspases 3, 8, 9; modulation ratio of Bax: Bcl-2; induce DNA damage [ 19 , 20 ] and the characteristics of chitosan undergo protonation in acidic environments and provide useful release at low pH as in tumor microenvironment that has acidic pH [ 21 ].…”

Chitosan Nanoparticles-Insight into Properties, Functionalization and Applications in Drug Delivery and Theranostics

“…A recent review reported the application of chitosan NPs in therapeutics and theranostics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to overcome the limitations of conventional HCC therapies [ 116 ]. NPs were prepared with specific ligands enabling liver targeting and the results showed improved inhibition of tumor growth combining the benefits of diagnosis at early disease stage along with improved therapeutics.…”

The Evaluation of Drug Delivery Nanocarrier Development and Pharmacological Briefing for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update

“…In addition, it owns a lipid-lowering capacity, through promoting weight loss, lowering LDL, and boosting high-density lipoprotein (HDL), with a suggested mechanism linked to the polymer’s positive charge, which attracts the negatively charged fatty acids and bile acids binding them to the indigestible chitosan fiber [ 100 ]. Interestingly, this unique polymer can deliver genes and target the liver [ 101 , 102 , 103 ], which nominates it to be the polymer of choice for smart anti-MAFLD nanomedicine delivery.…”