Targeted Colon Cancer Therapy Using Bio-Polymers-Mechanisms, Delivery Systems, And Recent Advances

One of the main and most causes of morbidity and mortality in the world is colon cancer. Surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation are examples of conventional therapeutic approaches that frequently have
drawbacks like systemic poisoning, non-specific drug activity, and limited drug concentration within
tumour tissue. Polymeric drug delivery systems have become a viable approach for colon cancer
management. Chemotherapeutic agents or bio-active compound can be mixed with natural and
synthetic polymers to produce sophisticated colon delivery systems like hydrogels, nanoparticles,
microspheres, and polymeric coatings that allow for targeted and regulated drug release in the colon
site. These systems improve therapeutic bio-availability, cellular uptake, and tumour focused targeting
while shielding medications from early gastrointestinal breakdown. Additionally, polymer-mediated
delivery methods have the ability to alter important molecular signalling pathways like
PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, MAPK, and apoptosis-related pathways involved in colonic carcinoma and
can be modulated by polymer-driven delivery systems. The mechanisms of action of several natural
and synthetic polymeric matrices utilized for colon-directed drug delivery are covered in this review,
along with how they can improve therapeutic outcomes.