Drug delivery systems based on polysaccharides and inorganic nanoparticles: A comprehensive review on their therapeutic applications and recent advances

During the last decades, nanocarriers-based therapy has gained great interest in the field of drug delivery because of some advantages including great surface area, enhanced cellular uptake, and prolonged and targeted release. Metallic (e.g. gold), metal oxides, (such as Fe 3 O 4 , CuO, ZnO), non-metal oxides (e.g. SiO 2 ), and carbon-based nanoparticles (such as graphene oxide) have been found among the most common nanomaterials used as drug nanocarriers. Functionalizing these nanomaterials with polysaccharides can result in hybrid nanocarriers with enhanced bioavailability, improved pharmacokinetic profiles, and greater selectivity for the target site. Polysaccharides such as chitosan, cellulose, alginate, hyaluronic acid, carrageenans, cyclodextrins, and natural gums are particularly well-suited for this purpose due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, stimuli-responsiveness, and gelling properties. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the advancements in the development of nanocarriers based on polysaccharides and diverse inorganic nanoparticles for the preparation of drug delivery systems. Also, it examines the properties, benefits, and limitations of various polysaccharides and nanoparticles, explores the potential of their hybrid nanocarriers, and highlights current challenges and future opportunities in the biomedical field.