Potential applications of Folate-conjugated Chitosan Nanoparticles for Targeted delivery of Anticancer drugs

Folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles represent a promising nanoplatform for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. The nanoparticle carrier can protect the therapeutic agents from degradation and offer the ability to target cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors. This review summarizes recent research progress in synthesizing folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles as well as evaluating their potential as targeted drug delivery systems. The chemical conjugation of folic acid to chitosan is first discussed followed by an overview of different techniques for preparation of stable folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles less than 200 nm in size. Recent studies loading various anticancer drugs into these nanoparticles and investigating their in vitro cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cell lines are then summarized. The results indicate that folate-conjugated nanoparticles exhibit higher cytotoxicity and targeting efficiency compared to non-conjugated nanoparticles due to receptor-mediated endocytosis. Lastly, future challenges and opportunities are outlined including in vivo investigations to determine the effectiveness, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticle systems as well as their potential clinical translation as targeted drug carriers for cancer chemotherapy.