The Role of Anionic Polysaccharides in the Preparation of Nanomedicines with Anticancer Applications

Abstract

Cancer has become one of the main causes of death in developed countries, and it is expected to be declared as the disease with the highest worldwide morbidity and mortality indexes in the coming decades. Nanomedicine aims to overcome some problems related to this prevalent disease, particularly the lack of efficient diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The most recent scientific advances, which have conducted to a more personalized medicine, were focused on the production of nanocarriers involved into the transport and the delivery of drugs to targeted cells. A wide variety of nanocarriers composed by different materials have been designed for their use as drug delivery systems. Polysaccharides have emerged as very useful biopolymers among all raw materials used in the preparation of these nanoplatforms. They are highly stable, non-toxic and biodegradable molecules, and also present some chemical properties which are very difficult to reproduce using artificial polymers. Anionic polymers, such as hyaluronic acid, heparin or alginate, present some structural and chemical characteristics which make them ideal polymers to prepare nanosystems with anticancer applications. This review will focus on the description of some anionic polysaccharides and the possibilities they offer towards the preparation of nanosystems with applications in cancer treatment and diagnostics.

Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles in Sodium Alginate Matrix Enriched with Graphene Oxide and Investigation of Properties of the Obtained Thin Films

“…Nanocomposites with such nanoparticles are biodegradable and environmentally benign. Thus, they enjoy numerous potential applications, such as in prophylaxis, therapy and agricultural production [14]. The most suitable polysaccharides in developing nanoparticles are: starch, cellulose, alginates, pectins, xanthan gum, cyclodextrins, chitosan [15], heparin [16], furcellaran [17] and hyaluronic acid [18][19][20].…”

Natural and artificial small RNAs: a promising avenue of nucleic acid therapeutics for cancer

“…Nanoparticle carriers, which are non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and immunoefficient, can be potentially used for cancer therapy 97 . Ideal polymers for preparing nano-systems include anionic polymers, such as hyaluronic acid, heparin, or alginate, which exhibit anticancer property 98 . Modified delivery systems include lipid carriers and polymers aptamers.…”

Formation and Investigation of Physicochemical, Biological and Bacteriostatic Properties of Nanocomposite Foils Containing Silver Nanoparticles and Graphene Oxide in Hyaluronic Acid Matrix

“…The key parameters for their practical use are low, medium, and high molecular weights, variable polydispersity, forming linear and branched macrostructures, monofunctionality, high degree of chirality, either low or high aqueous solubility, low (if any) toxicity, and immunogenicity. The bioactivity of polysaccharides and their antioxidative, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimutagenic, cancerostatic and anticlotting properties motivate their application in nanotechnology, medicine, and food technology [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In recent years, various polysaccharides have been used in the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles, acting as reducers and stabilizers and providing the formation of nanoparticles of uniform size [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”