Polysaccharide-based nano-delivery systems for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Use of nano-delivery systems for the treatment of colorectal cancer has been tried successfully for almost all known varieties of such delivery systems. However, the unique property of polysaccharides of resisting disintegration by highly variant nature of gastric and intestinal milieu in terms of pH, peristalsis, enzymes, and viscosity renders them highly suitable for protecting the entrapped drug throughout the GI sojourn till colon. This is further supported by the fact that polysaccharides act as food for the colorectal microbiome. So, not only does the colonic microbiota disintegrate the protective polysaccharides coating of such carriers but also flourish on them. This, in turn, ensures that the microbiome remains conducive for targeted delivery of subsequent doses. A number of nano-delivery systems either made from polysaccharides or functionalized by polysaccharides are discussed in the current chapter. The characteristics of the various categories of polysaccharide-based nano-delivery systems are also elaborated along with the advantages and limitations thereof.