Impact of Chitosan-based Nanocarriers on Cytoskeleton Dynamics: Current Status and Challenges

DI SANTO MC*; ALAIMO A*; DOMINGUEZ RUBIO AP; PÉREZ OE. (*) BOTH AUTHORS CONTRIBUTED EQUALLY TO THIS WORK

Biocell

Tech Science Press

Lugar: Nevada; Año: 2022 vol. 46 p. 885 - 891

Chitosan-based nanocarriers (CS-NC) show a promising role in improving drugs and bioactive compounds delivery for therapy. However, the effects exerted by CS-NC at the cellular level, including their recognition and uptake, have not been fully investigated yet. Many factors, including size, shape, concentration, and surface chemistry of CS-NC, play an important role in determining the types of intracellular signals triggered. The mechanism of uptake and the involvement of the cytoskeleton during the CS-NC endocytosis variates among the different cell types as well as further effects observed inside cells. In the present work, we discuss the effects induced by CS-NC per se on the cytoskeleton, a key component in cell architecture and physiology. The focus of this report is made on tumoral and normal biological models in which CS-NCs could differentially affect the cell cytoskeleton. The recent years reports regarding the impact of CS-NC on cytoskeleton dynamics and the current techniques for its evaluation are summarized and discussed. Understanding mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal impact after cell exposure to CS-NC is critical for the design of safest value-added formulations in the biomedical field. Furthermore, this revision points out some interesting aspects of cytoskeletal changes and cell death encompassing anti-tumoral effects.