Inulin as a Delivery Vehicle for Targeting Colon-Specific Cancer

Curr Drug Deliv. 2020;17(8):651-674. doi: 10.2174/1567201817666200527133719.

Abstract

Natural polysaccharides, as well as biopolymers, are now days widely developed for targeting colon cancer using various drug delivery systems. Currently, healing conformations are being explored that can efficiently play a multipurpose role. Owing to the capability of extravagance colonic diseases with the least adverse effects, biopolymers for site specific colon delivery have developed an increased curiosity over the past decades. Inulin (INU) was explored for its probable application as an entrapment material concerning its degradation by enzymes in the colonic microflora and its drug release behavior in a sustained and controlled manner. INU is a polysaccharide and it consists of 2 to 1 linkage having an extensive array of beneficial uses such as a carrier for delivery of therapeutic agents as an indicative/investigative utensil or as a dietary fiber with added well-being aids. In the main, limited research, as well as information, is available on the delivery of therapeutic agents using inulin specifically for colon cancer because of its capability to subsist in the stomach's acidic medium. This exceptional steadiness and robustness properties are exploited in numerous patterns to target drugs securely for the management of colonic cancer, where they effectively act and kills colonic tumor cells easily. In this review article, recent efforts and inulin-based nano-technological approaches for colon cancer targeting are presented and discussed.

Keywords: Inulin; colon cancer; dietary fiber; polymeric drug delivery systems; polysaccharide; polysaccharides.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Colon / enzymology
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology*
  • Global Burden of Disease
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / enzymology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Inulin / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / administration & dosage
  • Risk Factors
  • SEER Program / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Dietary Fiber
  • Drug Carriers
  • Prodrugs
  • Inulin