Natural polysaccharide-based nano-drug delivery systems: Innovative strategies and research advances in cancer therapy - A review.

Natural polysaccharides have emerged as transformative materials in the development of nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) for cancer therapy, leveraging their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, and multifaceted capabilities. This comprehensive review systematically explores the dual role of polysaccharides: not only as versatile structural frameworks for NDDS but also as bioactive agents possessing inherent immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, and antiviral properties. Advanced fabrication techniques, including crosslinking, self-assembly, and stimuli-responsive engineering (e.g., pH-, enzyme-, and redox-triggered systems), enable precise spatiotemporal control over drug release within the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Functional innovations, such as the integration of magnetic nanoparticles into polysaccharide hydrogels, further enhance targeted delivery while concurrently facilitating imaging capabilities, thus exemplifying the convergence of theranostics and biomimetic design. Clinically, polysaccharide-based NDDS have demonstrated significant translational potential, with approved agents contributing to improved therapeutic outcomes in gastrointestinal and various other solid tumors. Despite these remarkable advancements, persistent challenges related to scalability, regulatory alignment, and the precision of tumor-specific drug release remain critical barriers to widespread clinical adoption. Future progress in this field is anticipated to hinge upon intensified interdisciplinary collaboration, the strategic application of AI-guided material optimization, and the design of modular biomimetic architectures to ultimately realize personalized and highly precise cancer therapies.