Sugar based biopolymers in nanomedicine: a review

Abstract

Since the last ten years, nanomedicine has recognized sugar-based biopolymers as potential materials for cancer imaging and therapy. Because of their robustness, biocompatibility, and adhesiveness, the molecules' molecular weights (MW) may be precisely adjusted, and because of their diversity, they can adopt a variety of conformations. Biocompatible sugar-based nanoparticles (SBNPs) can transport drugs to specific cells and also medicines and imaging carried out through the body. As demonstrated in several clinic phases, targeted strategies targeting cancer cells have been established and now include sugar-based indicators. These investigations create new biocompatible nanoparticles by chemically functionalizing biopolymers such chitosan, hyaluronic acid, mannan, dextran, levan, pectin, cyclodextrin, chondroitin sulphate, alginates, and heparin and adjusting their structural composition (NPs). Instead of taking a long time for each imaging and treatment step, these multipurpose sugar-based nanoparticles will have the benefit of quick detection, precise drug efficiency assessment, and the ability to immediately affect some dangerous diseases, particularly malignancies that are advancing quickly. To ensure that these nano-formulations are employed in clinical settings with effective pharmacological therapy and minimal overall toxicity, more work needs to be done and refined.