Alginate-based NPs for targeted ovarian cancer therapy: Navigating current progress and biomedical applications

Ovarian cancer continues to be one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, with earlier symptoms that are frequently subtle, resulting in detection at late stages. Although there are several traditional treatments, patients do not respond well to them owing to serious side effects. Alginate, a polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed (a natural polymer), has gained significant attention as an ideal biopolymer for developing drug delivery systems because of its nontoxicity, biodegradability, and ease of manipulation. Alginate-based NPs (ABNPs) represent a new strategy for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancer, increasing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in tumor cells while reducing systemic toxicity. Current strategies to exploit ABNPs relate to their capability to encapsulate different types of payloads, including small-molecule drugs, proteins, and genetic materials. Functionalization with targeting peptides, antibodies, or FA imparts selective affinity for ovarian cancer cells, and hence, a targeted chemotherapeutic approach. Alginate NPs are a versatile and potent platform for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancer, integrating drug delivery into diagnostics, as well as gene therapy. This review presents the latest research trends and an understanding of the characteristic features and functions of ABNPs in targeted delivery against ovarian cancer.