Revolutionizing cancer treatment: the role of chitosan nanoparticles in therapeutic advancements

Cancer poses a significant global health threat, with millions of new cases and deaths annually reported. The traditional chemotherapy faces challenges due to poor drug solubility, impacting both healthy and cancerous cells. The need for more targeted therapies has driven the exploration of innovative nanocarriers, particularly nanoparticles (NPs), in cancer therapy. NPs offer precise drug delivery, addressing challenges through enhanced permeability and retention effects. Chitosan (CS), derived from chitin stands out as an environmentally friendly and biocompatible polysaccharide. Chitosan NPs (CS-NPs) meet crucial design criteria for cancer-targeting, ensuring precise targeting, effective drug release, and reduced cytotoxicity to non-cancerous tissues. Chitosan is an appealing option because of its unique combination of properties, including biodegradability and efficient medication encapsulation, that distinguish it apart from other natural polymers. Thus, the review explores the physicochemical properties of chitosan and its utilization in cancer treatment. It also offers a deep dive into recent advancements in CS-NPs research, focusing on their anti-cancer capabilities and their ability to deliver various therapeutic agents. In addition, it also provides a thorough analysis of the challenges faced and the future prospects for enhancing the application of CS-NPs in cancer therapy.