The emergence of biopolymer-based nanocarriers offers a transformative approach to cancer therapy, particularly in enhancing the efficacy and precision of chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent with limited tumor selectivity and rapid metabolic degradation. Among the vast array of natural polymers, chitosan, hemicellulose, and lignin, abundant, biodegradable, and derived from food and agricultural sources, have gained considerable attention as smart delivery vehicles. This review focuses on 5-FU as a clinically important but pharmacokinetically limited drug, and explores how polymer-based nanocarriers can overcome these challenges. We critically examine their biocompatibility, controlled release profiles, cellular uptake, and tumor-targeting mechanisms, along with their ability to overcome multidrug resistance and reduce systemic toxicity. Furthermore, we highlight recent advances in green synthesis techniques, surface engineering for active targeting, and synergistic applications with other bioactives or stimuli-responsive elements. By integrating insights from food science, nanotechnology, and oncology, this review underscores the promising role of chitosan, hemicellulose, and lignin nanoparticles in reshaping the landscape of cancer nanotherapeutics and paves the way for their translational potential in clinical settings.
Wang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.