Development of Biopolymer-based Multifunctional Delivery Systems for Combination Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis

Cancer remains one of the most complex and life-threatening diseases, necessitating the development of advanced drug delivery strategies for effective treatment. This thesis explores the design and development of biopolymer-based multifunctional delivery systems tailored for combination cancer therapy and diagnosis. Utilizing natural biopolymer like hyaluronic acid (HA) and oligosaccharide like cyclodextrin (CD), both hydrogel-based and nanogel-based delivery platforms were formulated to co-deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic therapeutics with enhanced stability, controlled release, and targeted tumor accumulation. Through Michael addition crosslinking, thiolated HA was conjugated with vinyl sulfonated CD to create injectable hydrogels with tunable viscoelastic properties. These hydrogels were further optimized for dual drug delivery, demonstrating synergistic anticancer effects through in vitro release and cell viability studies. Additionally, HA/CD-based nanogels and semi-interpenetrating polymer network systems were engineered to enable precise drug loading, theranostic applications, and redox-responsive drug release mechanisms. Comprehensive physicochemical characterizations, including rheology, DLS, Raman, FTIR, SEM, and swelling/degradation studies, were performed to validate the functionality of these systems. This research contributes to the advancement of biopolymer-based smart delivery platforms for combination therapy, offering promising strategies for more efficient and personalized cancer treatment.