Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanocarriers for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a key extracellular matrix component with excellent biocompatibility and targeting potential.
• CD44, the HA receptor, is overexpressed on many cancer cells, enabling tumor-specific drug delivery.
• HA-based nanocarriers enhance drug efficacy and reduce toxicity by targeting cancerous tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review HA-based nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery.
• To discuss fabrication methods, including prodrugs, organic, and inorganic nanocarriers.
• To analyze the progress, optimization, and therapeutic effects of these nanocarriers in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on HA-based nanocarrier fabrication for cancer therapy.
• Categorization of nanocarriers into prodrugs, organic (micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, microbubbles, hydrogels), and inorganic composites (gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, silicon dioxide).
• Discussion of nanocarrier design, optimization strategies, and their impact on therapeutic outcomes.

Main Results:

• HA-based nanocarriers demonstrate improved drug delivery efficiency and tumor targeting.
• Various fabrication approaches yield diverse nanocarrier systems with tailored properties.
• These nanocarriers show promise in reducing off-target accumulation and residual toxicity.

Conclusions:

• HA-based nanocarriers represent a promising strategy for advanced cancer therapy.
• Further development and optimization are crucial for clinical translation.
• The review highlights future perspectives and lessons learned in the field.