Recent advances in hyaluronic acid-decorated nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapy.

ABSTRACT: The cluster-determinant 44 (CD44) receptor has a high affinity for hyaluronic acid (HA) binding and is a desirable receptor for active targeting based on its overexpression in cancer cells compared with normal body cells. The nanocarrier affinity can be increased by conjugating drug-loaded carriers with HA, allowing enhanced cancer cell uptake via the HA-CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway. In this review, we discuss recent advances in HA-based nanocarriers and micelles for cancer therapy. In vitro and in vivo experiments have repeatedly indicated HA-based nanocarriers to be a target-specific drug and gene delivery platform with great promise for future applications in clinical cancer therapy.

SUBMITTER: Wickens JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5413407 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature