Recent Innovations in the Strategies for the Functionalization of Chitosan, Pectin, Alginate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextran and Inulin Biomaterials for Anticancer Applications-A Review

Polysaccharide biomaterials with carbohydrate backbones are currently the subject of material science and engineering research for anticancer applications. Polysaccharides exhibit surprising advantages compared to other substances because they are available in nature, are generally absorbed and have favorable immunogenicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. The naturally obtained polysaccharides sometimes have undesirable drawbacks in their structures that limit their use as biomaterials and therefore functionalization of polysaccharides is important to increase their applications. Anti-tumor approaches involving polysaccharide biomaterials are associated with probiotic properties immune-enhancement, anti-mutagenic potential, tumor growth inhibition and regulatory actions to oncogene modification. Polysaccharide biomaterials with various anticancer and antimicrobial agents have been investigated as drug delivery vehicles or biomaterials. This review summarizes recent strategies for the developments of polysaccharides biomaterials such as (chitosan, pectin, alginate, hyaluronic acid, dextran and inulin) for anticancer applications, the analysis of different polysaccharide biomaterial formulations and the influence of bioactive molecules on their anticancer properties.