Rajput Prachika, Khanchandani Sunita
Department of Chemistry, Netaji Subhas University of Technology (East Campus), New Delhi 110031, India.
Department of Chemistry, Netaji Subhas University of Technology (East Campus), New Delhi 110031, India.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jun;311(Pt 4):143999. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.143999. Epub 2025 May 9.
Cancer stands out as the primary cause of mortality globally. The variety of cancer-causing cells and their ability to adapt to the normal cellular milieu substantially complicates the treatment of cancer. Traditional cancer treatments encounter numerous constraints, including considerable side effects, insufficient efficacy and poor selectivity. This highlights the persistent demand for precise and efficient anticancer drug delivery vehicles capable of transporting therapeutic drugs specifically to targeted locations within the body. Through a comprehensive analysis of various drug delivery vehicles, multiple challenges have been identified. Nevertheless, years of in-vitro and in-vivo research, along with insights from experts around the globe, have spurred the evolution of nanotechnology-based cancer therapeutics. Among these advancements, nanocomposites derived from carbon allotropes and biopolymers have garnered significant interest owing to their non-toxic characteristics, substantial surface area for drug interaction and exemplary biocompatibility. In particular, nanocomposites composed of graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (CS) have emerged as a significant area of focus in cancer research. By scrutinizing the findings of a plethora of research published over the past ten years, this comprehensive review delves into the recent advancements that have materialized in the field of cancer research utilizing chitosan-functionalized graphene oxide (CS/GO) nanocomposites as drug delivery vehicles. This review explores the various types of CS/GO nanovehicles, their preparation methods and modifications including functionalization with metals, polymers and biomolecules. We have also provided an in-depth analysis of the drug loading efficiency, its analytical evaluation and the key factors influencing it. Significant attention is directed towards understanding various drug release mechanisms, with a particular focus on pH-triggered stimuli-controlled release and the mathematical models employed to characterize drug release dynamics. Additionally, we have assessed the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of CS/GO nanovehicles, which are critical considerations for guaranteeing safe and effective therapeutic outcomes. We assert that our review will serve as a strategic paradigm for researchers, offering an overview of the current landscape, addressing opportunities and challenges ahead and ultimately delineating sustainable prospective research goals focused on the drug delivery applications of CS/GO nanocomposites.
癌症是全球主要的死亡原因。致癌细胞种类繁多，且它们适应正常细胞环境的能力使得癌症治疗变得极为复杂。传统的癌症治疗方法存在诸多限制，包括严重的副作用、疗效不足和选择性差等问题。这凸显了对精确高效的抗癌药物递送载体的持续需求，这类载体能够将治疗药物特异性地输送到体内的靶向位置。通过对各种药物递送载体的全面分析，发现了多个挑战。然而，多年的体外和体内研究，以及全球专家的见解，推动了基于纳米技术的癌症治疗学的发展。在这些进展中，由碳同素异形体和生物聚合物衍生的纳米复合材料因其无毒特性、用于药物相互作用的大表面积和出色的生物相容性而备受关注。特别是，由氧化石墨烯（GO）和壳聚糖（CS）组成的纳米复合材料已成为癌症研究的一个重要关注领域。通过仔细研究过去十年发表的大量研究结果，本综述深入探讨了利用壳聚糖功能化氧化石墨烯（CS/GO）纳米复合材料作为药物递送载体在癌症研究领域所取得的最新进展。本综述探讨了各种类型的CS/GO纳米载体、它们的制备方法和改性，包括用金属、聚合物和生物分子进行功能化。我们还对药物负载效率、其分析评估以及影响它的关键因素进行了深入分析。重点关注了对各种药物释放机制的理解，特别关注pH触发的刺激控制释放以及用于表征药物释放动力学的数学模型。此外，我们评估了CS/GO纳米载体的细胞毒性和生物相容性，这是确保安全有效治疗结果的关键考虑因素。我们断言，我们的综述将为研究人员提供一个战略范式，概述当前的形势，应对未来的机遇和挑战，并最终勾勒出专注于CS/GO纳米复合材料药物递送应用的可持续前瞻性研究目标。
