Production and characterization of gamma-polyglutamic acid nanoparticles for controlled anticancer drug release

Gamma-polyglutamic acid (gamma-PGA) is a hydrophilic, biodegradable, and naturally available biopolymer produced by a number of microbial species, most commonly, the Bacillaceae family. Its biological properties such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and nonimmunogenicity qualify it as an important biomaterial in drug delivery applications. This review focuses mainly on the development of gamma-PGA nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for anticancer therapeutics. We discuss various techniques for the production and characterization of gamma-PGA nanoparticles and controlled-release strategies. We also present a brief overview of the tumor physiology that forms the basis for the development of various targeted drug delivery approaches in cancer chemotherapy.