Thiolated Natural Gum-Based Drug Delivery Techniques and Their Efficiency in Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Carcinoma: Possibilities, Pathways, Applications, and Challenges.

In the last few decades, diabetes mellitus has become an increasingly prevalent global health crisis. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with a wide range of complications, including diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, and a higher risk of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. In managing such conditions, drug delivery systems with enhanced therapeutic efficacy and specific tissue targets have received significant attention. Development of thiolated natural gums, which are polysaccharides that have been covalently modified with thiol groups, has paved the way for biomaterial-based drug delivery. These modified polymers are also prominent choices for controlled delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients in topical application, dry powder inhalation, or oral administration. Additionally, they can enclose hydrophilic macromolecular drugs, peptides, RNA, and biomacromolecules, namely insulin, FGF, and siRNA. This article explores the potential of thiolated natural gums in drug delivery for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes-associated carcinoma. The properties of thiolated gums, their mechanisms of drug release, and their advantages over conventional drug delivery systems are also discussed here. Furthermore, the article delves into various applications for diabetes and diabetes-associated breast, liver, and colorectal cancers. The article also discusses the challenges and future prospects of thiolated natural gums in the pharmaceutical arena.