Stability, challenges, and prospects of chitosan for the delivery of anticancer drugs and tissue regenerative growth factors

The review article presents various chitosan-based platforms for drug delivery. In particular, systems for cancer treatment and for the delivery of growth factors that promote tissue regeneration.

Rahman, M.H., Mondal, M.I.H., 2024. Stability, challenges, and prospects of chitosan for the delivery of anticancer drugs and tissue regenerative growth factors. Heliyon 10, e39879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39879.

 
Growth factors can be applied to wounds in combination with chitosan using hydrogels, aerogels or micro/nanogels.
The gels can be used, for example, to deliver epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to the wound tissue.
A combination of growth factors can prove to be beneficial, as chitosan itself has properties that promote wound healing. Chitosan has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Chitosan also forms a non-protein matrix that supports tissue growth. Furthermore Chitosan depolymerizes to N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine, which mediates fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and collagen deposition in the wound. This accelerates wound healing and reduces the formation of scar tissue.

A large number of possible combinations of substances with antitumor effects and chitosan have already been described, including sponges, scaffolds, nanocarriers, beads, films and capsules. For example, chitosan nanoparticles have been loaded with 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel or doxorubicin.
Nanocarriers improve bioavailability but also clearance and reduce cytotoxicity. A controlled release of the active substance is possible. The side effects of treatment with cytostatics could thus be minimized.

Summary: Chitosan-based drug delivery systems for growth factors and cancer drugs have shown promising results. In future, they could be used for the treatment wounds or carcinomas in the future.