Stimuli-responsive biopolymeric systems for drug delivery to cancer cells. Tailor-Made and Functionalized Biopolymer Systems

Cancer is one of the highest causes of deaths in the world; however, cancer treatment faces several difficulties, such as resistance to multiple medications, serious side effects and toxicities, and lack of targeted action. One potential effective approach is the application of the stimuli-responsive biopolymeric systems. Since the tumor environment has specific characteristics, these systems could be used in delivering anticancer drugs to the intracellular environment of the tumor cells, while minimizing localized damage to healthy cells. Moreover, biopolymers have several advantages, including biocompatibility and nontoxicity and, additionally, could protect the drugs from degradation and provide a prolonged drug delivery. This chapter details the various stimuli-responsive biopolymeric systems that can be used for more efficient drug delivery to the cancer cells.