Current trends in using polymer coated gold nanoparticles for cancer therapy

The interest in using the polymer-coated gold nanoparticles (P-AuNPs) for various biomedical applications, including the delivery of chemotherapeutic in cancer has been increased in the recent years. Various biocompatible polymers, including poly(ethylene glycol), heparin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, polystyrene sulfonate, polyethyleneimine and xanthan gum are being used for the surface decoration of AuNPs for various purposes such as to improve the stability of the NPs and the payloads, impart biocompatibility, promote long systemic circulation followed by cellular uptake to utilize the AuNPs as drug/nucleic acid delivery system for cancer therapy. This review is an attempt to elucidate various synthesis strategies explored so far, including direct synthesis, "grafting in" and "grafting from" for the preparation of the P-AuNPs. Various therapeutic applications of the P-AuNPs for cancer treatment have been illustrated.