Gellan Gum Immobilized Anticancer Drugs and Gold Nanoparticles in Nanomedicine

Abstract

This review is devoted to recent progress in the design of anticancer drug delivery systems with participation of unique polysaccharide gellan gum. At first a brief literature survey on conformational and phase behavior of gellan gum as a function of external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, salt addition etc. is presented. Then the immobilization protocol of anticancer drugs and gold nanoparticles within gellan-based hydrogel matrix is discussed. Release of anticancer drugs from gellan gel matrix to outer solution is considered. Cytotoxicity of gellan gum-immobilized gold nanoparticles together with their anticancer activity is summarized.