Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Nanoparticles Encapsulating Silymarin for Cancer Therapy

Cancer remains the leading cause of mortality globally, underscoring the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Among these strategies, nanoparticle technology has emerged as a promising avenue for cancer treatment. Recent advancements have enabled the modification of nanoparticles to exhibit favourable pharmacological properties through the incorporation of chemical ligands that specifically bind to receptors on the surface of malignant cells. The application of hyaluronic acid as a targeted ligand for nanoparticle coating presents a compelling alternative for active targeting. This approach allows for the controlled release of drugs in response to pH changes, while the high affinity of hyaluronic acid for CD44 receptors facilitates enhanced accumulation of these nanoparticles within cells that overexpress these receptors, such as cancer cells. In this review, we examine the advantages and recent developments in the use of hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HA-Np) for the treatment of various cancer types. The findings indicate that HA-Np can form a nanoparticle system characterized by favourable properties, efficacy, and effective targeting of diverse cancer cell types. Consequently, this system represents a promising candidate for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy, with the potential for further development in various oncological applications