Smart Drug Delivery Systems Based on Cyclodextrins and Chitosan for Cancer Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Conventional cancer therapies face limitations including poor targeting, drug resistance, and toxicity.
• Developing advanced drug delivery systems is crucial for improving cancer treatment outcomes.
• Cyclodextrins (CDs) and chitosan (CS) offer potential for creating effective nanocarriers for antineoplastic drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in drug delivery systems utilizing chitosan or cyclodextrins for cancer management.
• To highlight nanocarriers responsive to tumor microenvironment stimuli for targeted drug release.
• To provide an overview of smart nanostructures in oncological therapies.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of English-language articles published between 2019 and 2025 in PubMed-indexed journals.
• Focus on research involving encapsulation of antitumor drugs within chitosan or cyclodextrin-based nanosystems.
• Analysis of stimuli-responsive drug release mechanisms (pH, redox, folate receptors).

Main Results:

• Chitosan and cyclodextrin nanocarriers show promise in overcoming limitations of conventional chemotherapy.
• Stimuli-responsive nanosystems enhance targeted delivery and release of anticancer drugs at tumor sites.
• Recent research demonstrates significant advancements in nanostructures for cancer therapy.

Conclusions:

• Smart drug delivery systems based on CDs and CS are vital for improving cancer treatment efficacy.
• Targeted drug release mechanisms enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize systemic toxicity.
• Continued research into nanocarriers holds significant potential for future oncology therapies.