Fucoidans as multifunctional marine polysaccharide platforms: From nutritional supplements to advanced drug delivery...

Fucoidans are sulfated polysaccharides derived from brown algae that have emerged not only as dietary supplements but also as highly promising biomaterials for advanced drug delivery systems, particularly in oncology. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in engineering fucoidan-based delivery systems, with a focus on cancer therapy. It highlights their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and intrinsic bioactivities (e.g., antitumor, targeting via P-selectin). The design and applications of various fucoidan platforms-including nanoparticles, liposomes, and hydrogels-are detailed, demonstrating their ability to improve drug stability, enable controlled release, and enhance tumor-specific targeting. Key modification strategies, such as thiolation and conjugation with targeting ligands (e.g., anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)), are discussed for further optimizing performance. Beyond oncology, the review also covers promising applications in renal protection, wound healing, and antimicrobial therapy. Finally, current challenges such as structural heterogeneity and the gap to clinical translation are addressed, with future directions proposed involving standardization, intelligent design, and comprehensive preclinical validation. This review aims to serve as a strategic reference for the rational design and clinical translation of fucoidan-based nanomedicines.