Hyaluronic acid-conjugated lipid nanocarriers in advancing cancer therapy: A review

Lipid nanoparticles are obtaining significant attention in cancer treatment because of their efficacy at delivering drugs and reducing side effects. These things are like a flexible platform for getting anticancer drugs to the tumor site, especially upon HA modification, a polymer that is known to target tumors overexpressing CD44. HA is promising in cancer therapy because it taregtes tumor cells by binding onto CD44 receptors, which are often upregulated in cancer cells. Lipid nanoparticles are not only beneficial in improving solubility and stability of drugs; they also use the EPR effect, meaning they accumulate more in tumor tissue than in healthy tissue. Adding HA to these nanoparticles expands their biocompatibility and makes them more accurate and specific towards tumor cells. Studies show that HA-modified nanoparticles carrying drugs such as paclitaxel or doxorubicin improve how well cells absorb the drugs, reduce drug resistance, and make tumor shrinking. These nanoparticles can respond to tumor microenvironment stimuli in targeted delivery. This targeted delivery diminishes side effects and improves anti-cancer activity of drugs. Thus, lipid-based nanoparticles conjugated with HA are a promising way to treat cancer by delivering drugs effectively, minimizing side effects, and giving us better therapeutic results.