Recent advances in chitosan-based nanomaterials and conjugates for active and passive targeting of cancer cells

Chitosan-based materials have gained significant attention in drug delivery owing to their exceptional properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesiveness, and tuneable physicochemical characteristics. Their structural versatility allows formulation into various delivery tools, such as nanoparticles, microparticles, hydrogels, micelles, and conjugates. These attributes make chitosan an ideal biopolymeric candidate as a drug carrier with engineered characteristics, facilitating active and passive targeting. Chitosan nanoparticles contribute to passive targeting via enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect and actively participate in receptor-mediated targeting when functionalized with ligands such as small molecules, peptides, polymers, aptamers, and antibodies. This dual-targeting capability makes chitosan-based drug delivery systems highly advantageous for cancer therapy and other site-specific treatments. This review compiles recent advancements in the synthesis of various types of chitosan-based materials and their study in cancer-targeting efficacy. It explores passive targeting mechanisms through modified chitosan nanoparticles and discusses active targeting strategies achieved via conjugation with cancer cell-specific ligands. Special emphasis is placed on formulation strategies, targeting efficiency, and evaluating therapeutic outcomes through cell viability assays and cellular uptake studies.