International Journal of Biomaterials
Volume 2018 (2018), Article ID 2952085, 29 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2952085

Review Article

Anticancer Activity of Chitosan, Chitosan Derivatives, and Their Mechanism of Action

Hari Sharan Adhikari¹ and Paras Nath Yadav²

¹Department of Chemistry, Western Region Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal
²Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

Correspondence should be addressed to Paras Nath Yadav; pnyadav219@gmail.com

Received 28 July 2018; Revised 26 November 2018; Accepted 4 December 2018; Published 30 December 2018

Academic Editor: Alexander Seifalian

Copyright © 2018 Hari Sharan Adhikari and Paras Nath Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Tailoring of chitosan through the involvement of its amino, acetamido, and hydroxy groups can give derivatives of enhanced solubility and remarkable anticancer activity. The general mechanism of such activity is associated with the disturbances in normal functioning of cell cycle, interference to the central dogma of biological system from DNA to RNA to protein or enzymatic synthesis, and the disruption of hormonal path to biosynthesis to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Both chitosan and its various derivatives have been reported to selectively permeate through the cancer cell membranes and show anticancer activity through the cellular enzymatic, antiangiogenic, immunoenhancing, antioxidant defense mechanism, and apoptotic pathways. They get sequestered from noncancer cells and provide their enhanced bioavailability in cancer cells in a sustained release manner. This review presents the putative mechanisms of anticancer activity of chitosan and mechanistic approaches of structure activity relation upon the modification of chitosan through functionalization, complex formation, and graft copolymerization to give different derivatives.

1. Introduction

The source of chitosan (Figure 1) is chitin , a natural biopolymer (Figure 2) most abundant in exoskeletons of crustaceans and insect cuticles, cell walls of fungi, shells of mollusks, etc. Chitin consists of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- β -D-glucose monomers (N-acetyl glucosamine units) linked through β (1→4) linkages [1] and chitosan is a polymer of deacetyl α-(1, 4) glucosamine units that can typically be obtained by deacetylation of chitin with NaOH [2, 3] (Figure 3) after demineralization and deproteinization of the crustacean shells or exoskeletons (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1: Steps involved in the preparation of chitosan.

Figure 1: Structure of chitosan.

Figure 2: Structure of chitin.

Figure 3: Deacetylation of chitin.

The degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitin ranges from 60 to 100 % and molecular weight of commercially obtained chitosan ranges from 3800 to 20,000 Daltons. [4] It behaves as a pharmaceutical excipient [5], permeation enhancer [6], and a hemostatic agent [7] utilized as nonwoven sheet in wound healing and dressing [8] and targeted drug delivery with more efficiency and less side effects [9]. It is a multipurpose material [4] due to its nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and adsorptive behavior [10–12]. It has been found to exert anticancer activity with minimal toxicity on noncancer cells [13] and such activity against different cancer cell lines significantly depends upon molecular weight and DDA [10] affected by the distribution pattern of β-(1,4)-linked N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine units along the oligomeric chain [14, 15]. The uptake of chitosan nanoparticles by cultured fibroblasts was found to increase with the increase in DDA [16]. Y. Xu et al. showed antiangiogenic activity of chitosan nanoparticles [17]. Soluble form of chitosan oligosaccharide with low molecular weight has been reported to show remarkable biological activities and suppression of tumor growth [10, 18–22].

2. Chitosan and Its Derivatives as Anticancer Agents

Several derivatives of improved solubility and wide applications can be synthesized as a result of chemical modification of chitosan [23–27, 27–38]. Such derivatization of chitosan due to amino group and acetamido residue has been shown to give the compounds of enhanced solubility and biological activity [4]. Cell toxicity of 2-phenylhydrazine (or hydrazine) thiosemicarbazone chitosan is associated with its antioxidant behavior due to scavenging of cancer-causing free radicals [39], and the oxidative stress arising from imbalance between antioxidant defense and free radicals production may favor the etiological condition of cancer [40, 41]. Antitumor activity of chitosan-metal complexes is due to their interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) [42] and free radicals scavenging behavior [42–44]. Antitumor property of the derivatives carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) [45], chitosan thymine conjugate [46], sulfated chitosan (SCS) and sulfated benzaldehyde chitosan (SBCS) [47], glycol-chitosan (GChi) and N-succinyl chitosan (Suc-Chi) conjugates [48], furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan conjugate [49], and polypyrrole chitosan [50, 51] from different cellular apoptotic pathways has been reported in literatures.

3. Synthetic Routes of Anticancer Derivatives of Chitosan

3.1. 2-Phenylhydrazine (or Hydrazine) Thiosemicarbazone Chitosan

Synthesis of 2-phenylhydrazine (or hydrazine) thiosemicarbazone chitosan (Zhong Zhimei et al.) (Figure 4) [39] involves stirring of the reaction mixture of phenylhydrazine (or hydrazine) dithiocarboxylate intermediate with chitosan in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 100°C for 8 h and cooling in acetone at 4°C for 10 h. Then its yellow precipitate is soxhlet extracted with dichloromethane for 24 h [39]. Antitumor activity of thiosemicarbazones is associated with lowering of cellular oxidative damage due to scavenging of cancer-causing free radicals [39].

Figure 4: Synthetic route to 2-phenylhydrazine (or hydrazine) thiosemicarbazone chitosan.

The antioxidant activities of chitosan and thiosemicarbazone-chitosan derivatives measured by superoxide anion scavenging assay revealed more scavenging effect of thiosemicarbazone-chitosan than chitosan [39]. The scavenging effect of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC) ( =200 k Da), water soluble chitosan (Mw=8 k Da), 2-phenylhydrazine thiosemicarbazone-chitosan (higher ), and hydrazine thiosemicarbazone chitosan (lower ) was found 0.4, 12.67, 35.23, and 43.12, respectively [39]. The data showed greater scavenging effect of thiosemicarbazone chitosan than chitosan and also more scavenging with decrease in of chitosan.

3.2. Chitosan–Metal Complex

Polyfunctional nature of chitosan makes it a cationic polymer of complexing behavior with several metal ions [52]. A suitable ratio of metal ion to chitosan is essential for antitumor activity of a complex [42] and such ratio can be established by breaking the chain at weak points caused by coordinating bonds. The breakages at weak points to get complexes of uniform molecular weight can be carried out by oxidative hydrolysis with oxidants such as H₂O₂, O₃, and CH₃COOOH by controlling the coordinating conditions such as speed of stirring and rate of addition [44]. Study of degradation of chitosan by hydrogen peroxide has also shown the decrease in Mw with increase in temperature, time, and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Decrease in of chitosan from 51 k Da to 1.2 k Da was found to be accompanied by structural changes, associated with 2.86 mmol/g formation of carboxyl group and deamination and with 40% loss of amino groups of the products [53]. The rate of H₂O₂ oxidative degradation of chitosan was found to increase with pH owing to degradation enhancing effect of hydroxy radicals. So, the degradation could be controlled by controlling the pH of solution [53].

Square planar chitosan copper (II) complex of potential antitumor activity is prepared by the reaction of 0.5 g of chitosan in 50 ml of 1% acetic acid containing copper sulfate in 1:0.4 molar ratio of chitosan to CuSO₄.5H₂O. The solution is neutralized by dilute ammonia solution, stirred for three hours at 80°C, and cooled down to room temperature and the green precipitate of the complex is obtained by the addition of ethanol [42] (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Structure of chitosan-metal complex.

Tumor cell lines 293 and HeLa and normal lung fibroblast cell line HLF plated in a 100 μL/well at a density of 10⁵ per well were incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Copper-chitosan complexes in 0.1 M HCl were added and further incubated for 48 h. Cell proliferation assays were carried out after adding 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (WST-8) and 1-methoxyphenazine methosulfate (1-methoxy-PMS). Background control wells also contained the same volume of culture media. Chitosan-copper complexes were found to selectively inhibit HeLa and 293 tumor cell lines but there was no inhibition in the growth of HLF. The IC₅₀ values of such a complex with chitosan to copper (II) ratio of 1:0.4 for above cell lines were 48 and 34 µmol/L, respectively [42]. This clearly showed nontoxicity of chitosan-copper complex in noncancerous cells and concentration dependent antitumor activity of chitosan-copper complex in vitro.

3.3. Carboxymethyl Chitosan (CMCS)

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) is an amphoteric, water soluble chitosan derivative [54] that is prepared according to Chen and Park’s method (2003) [55] by the reaction of chloroacetic acid with NaOH alkalized chitosan.

CMCS thiosemicarbazones with p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-methoxybenzaldehyde, and salicylaldehyde are synthesized through one pot synthesis of thiosemicarbazide intermediate and its reaction under reflux at 65°C for 10 h with carboxaldehyde in methanol and acetic acid catalyst [54] (Figures 6(a) and 6(b)).

(a) Synthetic route of CMCS

(b) Synthetic route of CMCS thiosemicarbazones

Figure 6

Treatment of CMCS (0.5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, and 1.5 mg/ml) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed no significant decrease in cell viability (p>0.05) after 24 h and 48 h incubation. So, CMCS was nontoxic to HUVECs at the range of 0.5- 1.5 mg/ml. But, trans well migration assay showed significant inhibition of two-dimensional and three-dimensional HUVECs migration by treatment with CMCS in a concentration dependent manner (p<0.05), confirming the inhibition of angiogenesis in vitro [45]. The in vivo investigation of such effects of CMCS on H22 tumor growth bearing mice model also showed a significant inhibition in tumor growth (p<0.05), in comparison to the control group. The inhibitory rates were found to be 32.63%, 51.43%, and 29.89% at the doses of 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 300 mg /kg, respectively [45]. The effect of CMCS on histopathology of hepatocarcinoma 22 (H22) cells, as examined by HE staining of paraffin sections, showed the necrosis of most of the CMCS treated tumor cells, confirming the repression of H22 cells in vivo.

3.4. Chitosan-Thymine Conjugate

Thymine derivatives have been found to show the potent anticancer effect. For instances, nanoparticles (100-250 nm in size) of water-based chitosan thymine conjugate formed by selective binding with Poly(A) inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro [56] and some phosphonotripeptide thymine derivatives show inhibition of human leukemia (HL-60) cell growth in vitro [57]. Alpha-methylene-gamma-(4-substituted phenyl)-gamma-butyrolactone bearing thymine, uracil, and 5-bromouracil compounds have also been demonstrated to show inhibition of leukemia cell lines [58]. Ferrocenyl-thymine-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyranes have been reported to show in vitro antiproliferative activity against human colon carcinoma HT-29, estrogen receptor-responsive human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7, estrogen-negative human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231, human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60, and human monocytic MonoMac6 cancer cells [59]. The modification of chitosan with hyaluronic acid and thymine also shows an enhanced anticancer activity [33]. Conjugation of chitosan with thymine appears important in the expansion of biomedical utility. A novel chitosan–thymine conjugate was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan with thymine-1-yl-acetic acid followed by acylation [46] (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Synthetic route of chitosan–thymine conjugate.

Cellular cytotoxicity, proliferation, and viability assays were carried out with mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH 3T3) and human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) cultured in DMEM with 10 % (v/v) fetal bovine serum, MEM nonessential amino acids, 50 μM 2-mercaptoethanol, and chitosan thymine conjugate (0, 5,50,100 μM ) for seven days at 37°C in a humid atmosphere of 5% carbon dioxide in air. The cells treated with pure thymine or chitosan and untreated cells were taken as control. The assays for cell proliferation and viability of novel chitosan–thymine conjugate were reported to show inhibition (p < 0.05) of HepG2 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but no toxicity in noncancerous NIH 3T3 was found [46].

3.5. Sulfated Chitosan (SCS) and Sulfated Benzaldehyde Chitosan (SBCS)

Chitosan with an average molecular weight of ~ 1000 k Da that contains one acetamido and two hydroxyl groups in a unit [60] was chosen as a starting compound to make a hybrid sulfated compound with sulfate group as anticancer moiety in glycosyl unit [61]. Hence, sulphonylation of chitosan gives SCS and Schiff’s base reaction with benzaldehyde followed by sulphonylation gives SBCS [47] (Figure 8). Human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells culture in DMEM in heat-inactivated fetal bovine, growth inhibition study, western blot, and cell apoptosis evaluation by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation and significant induction of apoptosis by both compounds, SCS and SBCS, obtained in this way [47]. SBCS was investigated to have better inhibitory effects and lower IC₅₀ than SCS [47].

Figure 8: Synthetic route of sulfated chitosan (SCS) and sulfated benzaldehyde chitosan (SBCS).

3.6. N-Succinyl Chitosan (Suc-Chi) and Glycol Chitosan (GChi)

Biocompatibility and cell viability problems with chitosan can be minimized by more deacetylation, depolymerisation, and removal of coexisting ions [62, 63]. Enzymatic degradation of chitosan can be increased by derivatization of its 6-hydroxy group as in glycol-chitosan (GChi) and N-succinyl chitosan (Suc-Chi) [64–68]. These water-soluble derivatives of chitosan have been found both in vitro and in vivo to efficiently release the drugs to tumor cells [69, 70]. The synthetic route of N-succinyl chitosan (Figure 9) involved the 24 h reaction of succinic anhydride with DAC-90 in DMSO at 60°C followed by precipitation with 5% aq. NaOH at pH 5. The water dispersion of the precipitate maintained at pH 10-12 with 5% w/v aq. NaOH was dialyzed at room temperature for 2-3 days and the lyophilized samples were recovered [71]. The in vivo study, with the single intraperitoneal administration of Suc-Chi-MMC conjugate at 24 hours after the intraperitoneal L1210 tumor inoculation in mice models, showed the increase in antitumor activity with the increase in dose (equivalent MMC /kg). The ILS values of Suc-Chi-MMC conjugate have been reported to be 45.3% at the dose of 5 mg equivalent MMC/kg and 65.3% at the dose of 20 mg equivalent MMC/kg [72]. In addition, Suc-Chi-MMC conjugate has been found effective against solid tumors and metastatic liver cancer [48].

Figure 9: Synthetic route of N-succinyl chitosan.

Synthesis of glycol chitosan involves the reaction of ethylene glycol with chitosan [73] (Figure 10). The intravenous in vivo study of fluorescein thiocarbamoyl-G-Chi (G-Chi-FTC), a fluorescein labelled derivative of G-Chi with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), in mice showed that G-Chi could have more localization in kidney and longer retention in the blood circulation [48]. The in vivo investigation after intraperitoneal administration to mice bearing P388 leukemia showed the decrease in toxic side effects with G-Chi-MMC conjugate, though the therapeutic effect of the conjugate was not found better than MMC [48].

Figure 10: Synthetic route of glycol chitosan.

3.7. Furanoallocolchicinoid Chitosan

Use of colchicine as an antitumor agent is limited due to low accumulation in tumor cells. So, conjugation of colchicine with chitosan has been essentially important to decrease the side effects, increase the molecular weight to sequester it from noncancer cells and increase the biodistribution level of colchicine in cancer cells [74].

Furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan conjugate was synthesized by EV Svirshchevskaya et al. [49] by the reaction of furanoallocolchicinoid with succinic anhydride in tetrahydrofuran under an inert atmosphere followed by the extraction with ethyl acetate, addition of 40 k Da chitosan in the presence of acetic acid (pH 6) and methanol, stirring for 24 h with EDC and NHS, and drying and washing with toluene [49, 75, 76] (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Synthetic route to furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan.

Furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan has been found to show tumour growth inhibition as a result of a better accumulation in the tumour tubulin reorganisation and cell cycle arrest [49]. The investigation was made from in vivo study of the compound in Wnt-1 breast tumor bearing mice [49].

3.8. Polypyrrole-Chitosan (PPC): Graft Copolymerization

Recently, N. Salahuddin et al. have shown the enhanced in vitro inhibitory effect of polypyrrole-chitosan- (PPC-) silver chloride nanocomposite on proliferation of Erlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells after loading of 3-amino-2-phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone. The investigation was made from in vitro release of PPC nanoparticles in EAC cells at pH 2 [50]. PPC is a polyamine chitosan that can be obtained by graft polymerization of chitosan with pyrrole [50] (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Graft copolymerization of polypyrrole-chitosan.

The synthetic routes and activity of chitosan derivatives as anticancer agent have been summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Synthetic routes and activity of chitosan derivatives as anticancer agent.

S. No.
Compound
Method of synthesis
Test
Outcome
Year
Ref.

1
2-Phenyl hydrazine (or hydrazine) thiosemicarbazone chitosan
Reaction of 2-phenylhydrazine (or hydrazine) dithiocarboxylate intermediate with chitosan in DMSO.
Superoxide radical scavengingassay in vitro.
Higher superoxide radical scavenging effect than chitosan.
2010
[39]

2
Chitosan copper(II) complex
Reaction of chitosan with 1% acetic acid containing copper sulfate in 1:0.4 molar ratio of chitosan to CuSO₄.5H₂O, neutralized by dilute ammonia solution.
Cell proliferation assays after adding WST-8 and 1-methoxy-PMS in chitosan -copper cell well in vitro.
Inhibition of the proliferation of HeLa and 293 cells.
2006
[42]

3
CMCS
Reaction of chloroacetic acid with NaOH alkalized chitosan (Chen and Park)
Antitumor angiogenesis effects in vitro through MTT, and transwell migration assay in HUVECs and in vivo test in H22 bearing mice.
Significant inhibition of the migration of HUVECs in vitro and H22 growth inhibition in vivo.
2003 
2015
[55] 
[45]

4
Chitosan-thymine conjugate
Reaction of chitosan with thymine-1-yl-acetic acid followed by acylation.
Cellular cytotoxicity, proliferation and viability assays with HepG2 culture in DMEM with fetal bovine serum in suitable seeding conditions.
In vitro inhibition of human HepG2 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.
2012
[46]

5
SCS and SBCS
SCS from Sulphonylation of chitosan and SBCS from Schiff’s base reaction with benzaldehyde followed by sulphonylation.
MCF-7 cells culture in DMEM in heat -inactivated fetal bovine, growth inhibition study, western blot and cell apoptosis analysis.
Significant induction of MCF-7 cells apoptosis and inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation in vitro.
2011
[47]

6
Suc-Chi
Reaction of succinic anhydride with DAC-90 in DMSO followed by precipitation with aq. NaOH at pH 5
Intraperitoneal administration after the intraperitoneal tumor inoculation in mice models.
Increase in antitumor activity with increase in dose in L1210 in vivo.
2005 
2006 
1993
[48] 
[71] 
[72]

7.
G-Chi
Reaction of ethylene glycol with chitosan
The intravenous in vivo study of fluorescein thiocarbamyl-G-Chi (G-Chi-FTC) in normal mice.
Localization in kidney and longer retention in the blood circulation
2001 
2005
[73] 
[48]

Intraperitoneal administration of G-Chi-MMC to mice bearing P388 leukemia.
Decrease in toxic side effects
2001 
2005
[73] 
[48]

8.
Furanoallocolchicinoid –chitosan
Reaction of furanoallocolchicinoid with succinic anhydride in tetrahydrofuran under an inert atmosphere followed by the extraction with ethyl acetate, addition of chitosan in the presence of acetic acid (pH 6) and methanol, stirring with EDC and NHS, drying and washing with toluene.
In vivo study of the compound in Wnt-1 breast tumor bearing mice.
Decrease in side effects, sequestering of colchicine drug from noncancer cells and increase in its biodistribution in cancer cells, more inhibition of tumor growth than chitosan.
2016 
2011 
2015 
2014 
[49] 
[74] 
[75] 
[76] 

9.
PPC
Graft copolymerization of chitosan with pyrrole
In vitro release of PPC nanoparticles in EAC cells at pH 2.
Enhanced in vitro inhibitory effect of PPC silver nanocomposite on EAC cells proliferation after loading of 3-amino -2-phenyl 4(3H)-quinazolinone.
2017 
2017
[50] 
[51]

4. Mechanism of Anticancer Activity of Chitosan

4.1. Permeation Enhancing Mechanism

Amino group in chitosan leads to protonation in acidic to neutral medium. The positive charge developed in this cationic polysaccharide (pKa ~6.5) makes it water soluble and bioadhesive to bind with and enhance permeation through negatively charged surfaces such as mucosal and basement membranes [4, 77]. Consequently, chitosan facilitates oral bioavailability of polar drugs and their transportation through epithelial surfaces. Due to its biocompatibility and nontoxicity, chitosan finds applications in pharmaceutical and commercial fields like in the preparation of binder in wet granulation, tablets with slow release of drugs, drug carrier in microparticle system, disintegrant, hydrogels, site specific drug delivery, and carrier of vaccine delivery and gene therapy [4]. Its antimetastatic activity both in vitro and in vivo has been reported due to its permeation enhancing mechanism [4]. It has been found that the treatment of MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells with increasing concentration of chitosan inhibited the migration of these cells through a matrigel coated membrane [78] because this combination of chitosan and carcinoma cell lines lowered the activity and amount of MMP9 protein and this antimetastatic behavior increased with increase in concentration of chitosan [78].

4.2. Antiangiogenic Mechanism

Chitosan can exhibit antitumor effect by antiangiogenic mechanism. This process interferes with mutual regulation of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors under the pathological conditions [45]. Y. Xu and coworkers (2009) showed that chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) could inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma through a mechanism of CNP-mediated inhibition of tumor angiogenesis that was associated to impaired levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) [17].

4.3. Sustained Release Mechanism

A mechanism of anticancer functionality of chitosan is related to its capacity to increase the biodistribution level and accumulation of drug in tumor cells. Zhang et al. [79] through pharmacokinetic study in vivo have shown that mifepristone (MIF) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MCNS) ensure controlled drug delivery in a sustained release manner and enhance the oral bioavailability and anticancer activity of the drug [79].

4.4. Immunoenhancement Mechanism

It was also shown that the tumor growth inhibitory mechanism of chitosan involved enhancement of immunological system consisting of tumoricidal immunocytes as cytotoxic lymphocytes natural killer cells as observed in sarcoma 180 bearing mice [19, 80]. Antitumor activity of oligochitosan was suggested to have been related to activation of intestinal immune functions due to enhancement of NK activity in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) or splenic lymphocytes [19]. Microcrystalline chitosan has been found to inhibit cell viability on HT29 colon carcinoma cell line [81] and suppress the tumor growth in HepG2 bearing severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice [82]. Applications of native chitosan are limited by its higher molecular weight that results in low solubility in nonacidic aqueous media. So, to be absorbed in human body it is converted into low molecular weight COS [83]. Cellulase treated chitosan forms water soluble oligosaccharide product with low molecular weight due to enzymatic hydrolysis followed by degradation of the chain without any modification in chemical structure of the residues [83]. Such water-soluble product has been found to inhibit the growth of tumor cells [84–86]. Tokoro et al. suggested that the mechanism of such tumor growth inhibitory effect of hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose and chitohexaose is associated with higher production of interleukin I and interleukin II to bring about the maturation of splenic T- lymphocytes and killer T-cells [84]. Seo et al. showed that the antitumor activity of low molecular weight chitosan was due to activation of murine peritoneal macrophases to kill the tumor cells in the presence of IFN-γ [85].

Immunoenhancing molecular mechanisms of COS could precede either with direct killing of pathogenic microorganisms or tumor cells because of an immune response or with enhancement of cytotoxic activity to inhibit the production of tumor cells by activation of T-cells and NK-cells with the help of IL-1 and TNF-α cytokines [87, 88]. Synergistic effects shown by TNF-α are critical to bring about the proliferation of Th1 cells together with IL-1 and IL-2 in vitro [88]. So, the innate immune responses shown by COS are associated with upregulation of IL-1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ to increase the immune functions of lymphocytes [85–89]. The antitumor effect of chitosan has also been shown to be due to its antioxidant profile improvement pathway [90].

4.5. Cellular Apoptotic Mechanism

Anticancer activity of chitosan in different cell lines has been found to be due to apoptosis [10, 13, 17] that is initiated by activation of procaspase triggered from outside the cell to accelerate the cleavage of cascade to amplify the death signals [13].

Cytotoxicity of chitosan has been found to depend on its molecular weight and degree of deacetylation (DDA) [10]. Low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) has been found to exhibit cytotoxic effects on the oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Ca9-22 in vitro through induction of apoptosis by activation of caspase 3 and cell cycle arrest through extrinsic apoptosis by the activation of caspase 8 [13, 91, 92]. Higher cytotoxic effect of LMWC than higher molecular weight chitosan has been found to be the result of difference in mechanism of cytotoxicity. LMWC possesses higher positive charge in amino group and is more attracted to cancer cell membrane that has greater negative charge than in normal cells [93]. LMWC attacks cancer cells through electrostatic interaction with tumor cell membrane or extracellularly through endocytosis [13, 16].

Antiproliferative effect of chitosan on T24 urinary bladder cancer cell lines as shown by fluorescent activated cell sorbent assay (FACS) and DNA fragmentation assay [80] has been found to be the result of apoptosis. Investigation of cell cycle distribution mechanism of the chitosan induced inhibition of T24 cell growth with the help of flow cytometry showed that there was progressive increase in DNA content up to G2 DNA level with decrease in concentration until the end of S phase. Duration of G1 phase increased with increase in concentration eventually causing the disruption of cell membrane and hence necrosis of chitosan treated cell lines. This effect showed how chitosan could arrest the growth of tumor cells [80, 94].

Chitosan nanoparticles have been shown to inhibit human hepatoma BEL7402 cells proliferation because of cell necrosis by neutralization of its surface charge, permeation through the cell membrane, decrease in MMP, and induction of lipid peroxidation in vitro [95]. They have been proved to inhibit cell viability on HT-29 colon carcinoma cell lines [81]. Chitosan nanoparticles have been reported to target the cancer cells because of their preferential accumulation in tumor cells due to enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect and lower the p-glycoprotein induced multidrug resistance [96, 97].

LMWC has been shown to induce S phase arrest in cancer cells [13]. The mechanism of such cell cycle arrest at S phase generally involves cytokine signaling from the environment and subsequent inhibition of DNA synthesis for several hours [98]. Cellular senescence due to permanent arresting of cell cycle is a major cause of aging and a mechanism of anticancer activity [99]. It has been reported that cell senescence due to cell cycle arrest at G1 and S- phase by LMWC is probably associated with higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This process is initiated by higher expression of TGF-β molecules that causes step by step activation of Smads 2/3, Smad 4, p15, and p21 before the ultimate activation of ROS production [99]. Necessity of further research has been pointed out to clarify this mechanism of anticancer activity of chitosan [13].

G1 arrest by LMWC has been reported to be an indicative of the mechanism that involves the changes in protein expression to prevent the cells from entering S phase in a manner independent of p53 [98]. The rate of protein synthesis increases in case there is DNA damage requiring a rapid response without transcription or translation [100]. When there is checkpoint at G1 or S phase, TGF-β molecules induce CKIp15 and p27 to inhibit Cdk-4/Cdk-6-cyclin complex formation and prevent RB phosphorylation in a manner independent of p53 [101, 102]. When the checkpoint is in mid to late G1 phase, the cell cycle arrest takes place as a result of no RB phosphorylation in mid phase and low cyclin E-Cdk-2 activity in late phase [103]. G1 arrest by LMWC has also been reported to probably involve decrease in concentration of Cdc25A and inactivation of cyclin E-Cdk2 due to ubiquitination of Cdc25A. This process of ubiquitination in mammalian cells exposed to UV radiation is the result of Cdc25A phosphorylation through Chk1/Chk2 due to activation of ATM/ATR [103]. Necessity of further investigation has been pointed out to clarify this anticancer pathway of LMWC [13].

Shen et al. discovered that chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) in vitro inhibited cell proliferation, lowered the number of cells in S phase, and decreased the rate of DNA synthesis, as a result of increase in the level of p21 and decrease in cyclin A and CDK-2 [82]. MMP-9 that has key role in tumor growth was inhibited by COS in Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells [82].

Prolonged survival of nude mice with human pancreatic cancer xenografts upon the treatment of porcine pancreatic enzyme (PPE) extracts [104] was an evidence of proteolytic enzymes as a defense against cancer. Chemo preventive activity of COS in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 was reported to be the result of increased activity of enzymes QR, GST, and GSH [105]. COS was also found to inhibit proinflammatory cytokinin mediated nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) leading to decrease in proliferation of HT-29 [106]. Antiangiogenic activity of COS was hypothesized to be the result of heparanase inhibition [107] and reduction in colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 tumor size by COS was attributed to concentration dependent reduction in secretion of zinc dependent proteolytic enzyme MMP-2 [108] as a result of lowering of its induction by cytokines IFN-γ, IL-1α, and TNF-α [106]. COS was found to have inhibitory effects on the types of MMPs gelatinase and matrilysin on HT-29 cells [109]. COS was also found to inhibit ODC activity induced by 12-O–tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and TPA induced expression of COX-2 in HT-29 cells [105].

Increase in the expression of iNOS is associated with tumor growth, vascular invasion and metastatic potential [110, 111]. COS has been found to bring about the inhibition of angiogenesis and platelet aggregation effect of NO [112] by inhibition of NO production because of reduction in iNOS expression [106]. COS has been demonstrated to exert inhibitory effect on LPS-induced IL-8 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), LPS-induced HUVECs migration, and U937 monocyte adhesion to HUVECs [113]. COS has been found to induce apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma, HT-29 [114], and HL-60 cell lines [115]. Higher concentration of chitosan was found to inhibit the growth of mouse monocyte macrophage in RAW 264.7 cell lines [116] and suppress the colon and gastric cells proliferation [94]. In vivo effect of chitosan on Erlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells in EAT bearing mice showed a significant decrease in volume of ascites [18] and there was 25% increase in caspase 3 activity in Caco-2 cells after 24 h incubation with chitosan compared to the control that was not treated with chitosan [117]. Through nucleosomal DNA fragmentation, chitosan induced apoptosis on EAT cells was studied [118].

The effects of molecular weight () and degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitosan on its antitumor activity against PC3 (human prostate), A549 (human lung), and HepG2 (human hepatoma) cell lines were demonstrated by the cytotoxic potentials of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC) and COS fractions with different and DDA. The results showed that high HMWC was less effective than COS against these cells [10]. The antitumor activity is associated with both molecular size and chemical structure but antitumor mechanism of HMWC has yet been unclear.

Anticancer mechanism of action of chitosan in some potential target cells is summarized in Table 2.

Table 2: Anticancer mechanism of action of chitosan in some potential target cells.

Compound
Target cells
Mechanism of action
Test
Outcome
Year
Ref.

Chitosan
MDA-MB-231
Permeation enhancement, lowering of MMP9 activity
In vitro and in vivo
Antimetastatic effect
2013 
2009 
[4] 
[78] 

T24 urinary bladder cell lines
Disruption of cell membrane, necrosis
In vitro
Antiproliferative effect
2013 
2001
[80] 
[94]

Chitosan nano particles
Human hepato carcinoma
Nano particles mediated antiangiogenic action and impairment of VEGFR2 levels.
In vitro
Antiangiogenic effect
2010 
2015
[17] 
[45]

BEL7402, HT-29
Cell necrosis, decrease in MMP, induction of lipid peroxidation, enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect
In vitro
Inhibition of cellular proliferation
2012 
2007 
2017 
2017
[81] 
[95] 
[96] 
[97]

MIF loaded chitosan nano particles
Solid tumor
Sustained release and enhancement of bioavailability of drug
In vivo
Drug accumulation and growth inhibition
2016
[79]

Oligochitosan, (N-Acetyl) chitohexaose
Sarcoma 180, HT- 29, HepG2
Immunoenhancement through increase in activity of NK cells, T cells, killer lymphocytes and cytokins.
In vivo and in vitro
Suppression of tumor growth
2004 
2013 
2012 
2009
[19] 
[80] 
[81] 
[82]

LMWC/COS
SCC Ca9- 22
Cellular apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, electrostatic interaction and endocytosis
In vitro
Inhibition of tumor growth and proliferation
2014 
2004 
2010 
2004
[13] 
[92] 
[93] 
[16]

SCC Ca9-22
Cytokine signaling cell cycle arrest, ROS activation
In vitro
cell senescence, inhibition of cell growth and proliferation
2014 
2003 
2010
[13] 
[98] 
[99]

LLC cells
Inhibition of MMP-9
In vitro
Cell death and antiproliferation
2009
[82]

HT-29
Increased activity of enzymes QR, GST and GSH.
In vitro
Increase in chemo preventive activity
2007
[105]

Inhibition of NO and iNOS
In vitro
Decrease in tumor cells proliferation
2007
[106]

Antiangiogenesis by heparanase inhibition
In vitro
Inhibition of tumor growth
2009
[107]

Cytokines mediated MMP-2 reduction
In vitro
Reduction in tumor size
2007
[106]

1999
[108]

HUVECs
Inhibitory effect on LPS-induced IL-8 expression, LPS-induced HUVECs migration and U937 monocyte adhesion to HUVECs
In vitro
Tumor growth inhibition
2011
[113]

EAT cells
Apoptosis through nucleosomal DNA fragmentation
In vivo
Decrease in volume of ascites
2005 
2004 
2002
[18] 
[117] 
[118]

5. Mechanism of Anticancer Activity of Chitosan Derivatives

5.1. 2-Phenylhydrazine (or Hydrazine) Thiosemicarbazone Chitosan

In 1956, Brockman et al. [119] reported pyridine 2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone as the first heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone (HCT) to show anticancer activity in prolonging the life span of mice bearing L1210 leukemia. Then, many HCT derivatives with anticancer activity were synthesized by modification in the heterocyclic ring system, thiosemicarbazone side chain, and ring substituents [120–122]. In 1979, Klayman et al. [123] showed antineoplastic activity of 2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazones. Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is essentially involved in the de novo synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA replication and repair [124, 125], and the antineoplastic activity of α-(N)-heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones was found to be associated with inhibition of RR activity [126].

Chitosan thiosemicarbazones impart more antioxidant ability to scavenge and minimize the formation of free radicals [39] that would cause the immune system decline, brain dysfunction, and cancer [40, 41]. Due to presence of reactive functional groups and cationic nature, chitosan can make tight junctions in cell membrane and it can be biochemically modified into different derivatives of unique properties [4]. Antioxidant behavior of chitosan and its derivatives is due to ability of amino and hydroxyl groups in C-2, C-3 and C-6 positions of pyranose ring to abstract proton from free radicals [127]. When thiosemicarbazone is grafted to chitosan, both intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are weakened, N-H and C=S groups interact with free radicals, and there is an increase in its antioxidant capacity [39]. Anticancer effects of chitosan thiosemicarbazones can be inferred from their structural and antioxidant behavior.

5.2. Chitosan–Metal Complexes

Cisplatin is a complex widely used as an antineoplastic drug in solid tumors, but it has limited spectrum of activity and several side effects of dose dependent severity [128, 129]. In an attempt to develop the antitumor compounds with less side effects and wide spectrum of biological activity, platinum and nonplatinum metal complexes with different carrier ligands have been synthesized [130–134].

Owing to the presence of multiple hydroxyl, acetamido, and amino groups in the chain, chitosan shows chelation with many metal ions [42, 135, 136]. Chitosan copper(II) complexes in copper to chitosan mixture ratio of 2:5 have been found to show antitumor activity with 293 cells and HeLa cells [42].

Investigation by sulforhodamine B assay in vitro of low-molecular-weight chitosan salicylaldehyde Schiff-base and its zinc(II) complexes have been found to show inhibition of the growth of SMMC-7721 liver cancer cells because of the synergistic effect of chitosan matrix and planar geometry of the complexes [43].

The results of electrophoretic analysis have shown that the zinc complexes are bound to DNA by means of electrostatic interactions and intercalation. Experiments have shown more inhibitory effect of complex than ligand and still more potent antitumor activity of low molecular weight chitosan–zinc complex than high molecular weight analogue [43]. Square planar geometry of chitosan-metal complex favors the reaction of metal ion with free radicals to cause better scavenging of oxidative free radicals [44]. The free donor atoms in the complex molecules can chemically induce the cleavage of DNA to show antitumor activity [42].

The antitumor activity of chitosan copper(II) complex depends on concentration of copper and the possible mechanism of this action is that the positive charge on amino group of chitosan is strengthened due to the chelation with copper(II) ion and the complex develops more interaction with anionic components of cell surface [42, 137]. This complex has been tested to inhibit tumor cell proliferation in 293 cells and HeLa cells in vitro [42] and the underlying mechanism of antitumor activity is associated with checkpoint-controlled progression of cell proliferation at S phase [138]. It has been shown that chitosan-loaded copper nanoparticles are biocompatible towards the execution of enhanced retention and permeation (EPR) effect to be preferentially accumulated in cancer cells in vivo and their superior anticancer effect has been demonstrated by maximum damage and apoptotic body formation in cancer cells [96]. Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation to endothelial cells have been noted as the causes of anticancer effect of such nanoparticles [139, 140]. Indeed, the selective accumulation and internalization of these nanoparticles (< 200 nm) on cancer cells have now been a progressive research perspective [96]. Anticancer activity of copper chitosan nanoparticles has been attributed to generation of higher mitochondrial ROS level as a prime hallmark of cellular oxidative damage, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis [141]. Experimentally, higher apoptotic activity owing to an increase in caspase 3/7 activity has been illustrated by the higher expression of caspase 3 [96].

5.3. Carboxymethyl Chitosan (CMCS)

Owing to its solubility in water [142], lower toxicity, better biodegradability, and biocompatibility [143], CMCS has been prepared as a carrier of anticancer drug such as 5- fluorouracil, curcumin, and doxorubicin [144–147]. CMCS has been found to exhibit antitumor activity as a result of antiangiogenic effects in vitro and in vivo [45]. It showed the concentration and time dependent inhibition of HUVECs migration in vitro and a significant decrease in growth rate of mouse hepatocarcinoma (H-22) tissues because of cell necrosis in vivo [45]. Most of the CMCS treated H-22 cells were found to undergo necrosis due to distortion in their shape and disintegration of their nuclei [45]. CMCS was also found to inhibit the growth of BEL-7402, SGC-7901, and HeLa cells (p<0.05) [148].

CMCS has been shown to stimulate immune functions and suppress the tumor angiogenesis [45]. Molecular mechanism of tumor angiogenesis involves the formation of new blood vessels from the vascular endothelial cells. So, the method of immune histochemistry to investigate angiogenesis also adopts the way of labeling of such cells as ‘marker cells’ to reflect the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor. Among many endothelial marker cells, CD34 antigen is selected to study this process in H-22 hepatic tumor cells [149]. J. Zhiwen et al. showed the inhibition in the expression of CD34 (p<0.05) in CMCS (150-300 mg/kg) treated H-22 tumor tissue and this result strongly indicated dose-dependent antiangiogenic activity of CMCS in H-22 hepatic tumor in vivo [45].

Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by the proangiogenic and antiangiogenic effects in the cells. VEGF, a specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, and its kinase receptors found in many human tumors bring about the proangiogenic effect and TIMPs cause antiangiogenic effect by the inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation and transformation of malignant cells [45]. J. Zhiwen et al. found the decrease in VEGF level and increase in TIMP1 level after 14-day treatment of mouse serum with CMCS in vivo. This result clearly showed the inhibition of angiogenesis by CMCS in mouse serum [45]. The mechanism of this antiangiogenic activity may be associated with stimulation effect of key cytokines causing the inhibition of MMP activity that inhibits the extracellular matrix degradation and transformation of malignant cells [45, 82, 95, 106].

Human body can resist infection and cancer through the immune system consisting of the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and lymph ducts [150]. TNF-α and IFN-γ are important immune- related cytokines being used in the clinical cancer treatment for many years [151, 152]. TNF- α enhances the immune function [153] and induces apoptosis of tumor cells [154, 155]. IFN- γ, a pleiotropic cytokine with immunomodulatory effects, is produced by activated T cells and NK cells in the immune system to promote apoptosis and kill the tumor cells [156, 157]. J. Zhiwen et al. showed a significant increase in thymus index in mice (p<0.05) upon the treatment of CMCS and in another experiment, through detection by ELISA assay, they showed an enhancement in IFN-γ and TNF-α levels in CMCS treated mouse serum. These results clearly indicated the antitumor effects of CMCS by the regulation of immune-related cytokines induction and improvement in immune system [45].

5.4. Chitosan-Thymine Conjugate

Conjugation of nucleobase with various natural and synthetic biopolymers can form the derivatives with enhanced biological activity. For instance, phenanthridinium–nucleobase conjugates [158], metallocene–nucleobase conjugates [159], symmetrical and unsymmetrical, ω-nucleobase mono- and bis-amide conjugates [160], cyclodextrin–DNA conjugate [161], ferrocene–bis(nucleobase) conjugates [162, 163], neamine–nucleoside conjugates [164], DNA-peptide conjugates [165], peptide–nucleobase conjugates, and nucleobase PNA conjugates [166] have been found to inhibit a specific DNA or mRNA molecular expression as a result of an induced blockade in the transfer of genetic information from DNA to protein. Chitosan–nucleobase conjugate is an analogue of natural nucleobases and its anticancer mechanism is associated with its incorporation into the nuclear DNA during DNA synthesis and into mRNA during transcription. Incorporation of chitosan–nucleobase into DNA or mRNA induces breakage of the strand as a result of the chain termination leading to cell cycle arrest [167] and this mechanism is attributed to the absence of 3OH group required for the addition of more nucleotides. Cancer cells have shorter cell cycle and hence faster cell division. In comparison to noncancerous or slow dividing cells, these cells are far more affected by the chitosan–nucleobase [168]. Such a selective cytotoxicity against the cancer cells can be increased by conjugation of chitosan with a polynucleotide having a complementary sequence to that of oncogene or its mRNA product so that a specific nucleobase of chitosan–nucleobase conjugate can interact with the DNA or mRNA of tumor cell. This interaction owing to complementary base pairing (Thymine or Uracil with Adenine and Cytosine with Guanine) leads to inhibition of DNA synthesis, mRNA transcription, and translation of the cancer-causing gene [46]. Inhibition of HepG2 proliferation in vitro was shown by chitosan-thymine conjugate in a dose-dependent manner [46].

5.5. Sulfated Chitosan (SCS) and Sulfated Benzaldehyde Chitosan (SBCS)

Endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis in metastatic breast carcinomas are associated with the role of heparin-binding growth factor [169–171]. The interaction of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) with a low affinity receptor heparan sulfate (HS) (Figure 13(a)) brings about a suitable conformational change and a subsequent binding of FGF-2 to its high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase (FGFR). Thus, HS is crucial for storage and regulated release of FGF-2 and other HS-binding growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at the cell surface. Evidently the HS alterations during the progression of cancer cause the change in FGF-2 binding and fibroblast growth factor–receptor (FGFR) ternary complex assembly in breast carcinomas [47].

(a)

(b)

Figure 13: (a) Heparan sulfate (HS). (b) Carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran (CMDB).

Literature shows that natural sulfated polysaccharides, such as pentosan polysulphate [172–174], tecogalan [175], and fucoidan [176], can bind with FGF-2 and block the binding of FGF-2 with HS [174] resulting in inhibition of cell proliferation [173] and metastasis [176]. Heparin like binding of carboxymethyl benzylamide dextrans (CMDB) [177–181] and phenylacetate carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran (NaPaC) [182–185] with FGF-2 was also found to alter the cell growth. CMDB inhibited autocrine and paracrine growth of breast tumor cells as a result of formation of a stable 1:1 complex FGFR [186]. NaPaC showed antiproliferative effects and inhibited VEGF binding to VEGFR2 and abolished VEGFR2 activity [187]. Sulfate group in heparin, tecogalan [175], and phenyl group in CMDB and NaPaC [177] were found responsible for the anticancer effects, and, in an attempt to get both functional groups in the same compound, the sulfate group was introduced to the end of the phenyl group of CMDB (Figure 13(b)) and a hybrid compound, carboxymethyl benzylamide sulfonate dextran, was obtained [188].This compound was found to interact strongly with FGF and potentiate the FGF-induced mitogenic activity; but it had no antiproliferative activity [188]. So, chitosan that contains one acetamido and two hydroxyl groups in a unit was chosen as a starting compound to make such a hybrid compound with the sulfate group on other sites of glycosyl unit [61].

Both the sulfated chitosan (SCS) and the sulfated benzaldehyde chitosan (SBCS) were investigated to significantly inhibit cell proliferation through induction of apoptosis and blockade of the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 cells [47].

5.6. Glycol-Chitosan and N-Succinyl Chitosan

The conjugates of anticancer drug with chitosan have been found to show less adverse effects due to a predominantly higher distribution of such conjugates in cancer cells. Due to such a higher bioavailability in cancer cells, both insoluble and soluble formulations of glycol chitosan (G-Chi) and N-succinyl-chitosan (N-Suc-Chi) MMC conjugates have been found useful polymeric drug carrier in cancer chemotherapy [48].

N-Suc-Chi was found to show a long systemic half-life and a high distribution level in tumor cells [48]. In vivo study of activity of G-Chi, using its fluorescein labelled derivative after intravenous administration in normal mice, showed that G-Chi was more distributed in blood and kidneys with a long retention in kidneys [48].

Conjugation of doxifluridine and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) via glutaric spacer with chitosan has shown higher antitumor effect against P388-bearing leukemia model mice in vivo. The conjugates of mitomycin C (MMC) with both G-Chi and N-Suc-Chi have been found to show a remarkable antitumor activity in solid tumors, leukemia, and metastatic liver cancer [64, 65, 189] by a sustained release mechanism of the free drug from conjugates [48] in vitro and in vivo. The toxic side effects of MMC–G-Chi conjugate were lower than free MMC, possibly due to high distribution of G-Chi in tumor cells [48].

5.7. Furanoallocolchicinoid Chitosan Conjugates

Colchicine is a small hydrophobic molecule that binds to tubulin in serum albumin and accumulates in leukocytes [190, 191]. It prevents microtubule formation by such binding with tubulin and inhibits cell division [192–195]. However, its use as an antitumor agent is limited due to low accumulation in tumor cells. So, the increase in molecular weight by conjugation of colchicine with chitosan has been found essentially important to sequester colchicine molecules from the noncancer cells. It results in the increase in biodistribution level of colchicine in cancer cells and decrease in the side effects [74].

Furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan is a “smart” Ringsdorf’s antitumor drug conjugate [196] that has been found to induce in vitro tubulin reorganization, cell cycle arrest, and more effective inhibition of the tumor cell proliferation in Wnt-1 breast tumor bearing mice [49, 75]. Due to better accumulation in tumor cells, furanoallocolchicinoid chitosan conjugate was found more effective (p <0.05) than chitosan towards tumor growth inhibition [49]. Lowering of tumor growth by chitosan was not reported to be associated with tubulin reorganization and cell cycle inhibition [49].

5.8. Polypyrrole Chitosan (PPC)

Loading of 3-amino-2-phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone on polypyrrole chitosan- (PPC-) silver chloride nanocomposite has shown an increase in bioavailability of chitosan in cancer cells and the mechanism of this activity is associated with sequestering of molecules from noncancer cells and their sustained release to cancer cells [50, 51]. Owing to large surface area to volume ratio and stability [197, 198] polypyrrole chitosan nanoparticles loaded 1,2,4- triazoles have been reported to show higher antitumor activity than 1,2,4- triazole against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) [197]. Polypyrrole chitosan loaded nanoparticles exhibit biocompatibility with mammalian cells [199] towards their delivery to targeted cells in a sustained release manner [50, 200]. Nanosized polypyrrole chitosan particles are not easily cleared by phagocytes and can easily make their way through the smallest blood capillaries and penetrate the cells to reach the target organs [50].

The in vitro release of PPC nanoparticles in EAC and MCF-7 at pH 2 was found to follow the zero-order kinetics in a gradual release manner [197]. The rapid release of 1,2,4- triazoles from chitosan nanoparticles at pH 2 was attributed to electrostatic repulsion between and groups in the chitosan nanoparticles [201]. At basic medium of pH 7.4, hydrogen bonding between S-H of triazole and N-H of NH₂ group in chitosan is strengthened and it causes the decrease in release percentage of triazoles [197].

Anticancer mechanism of action of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone (HCT), as a precursor of chitosan thiosemicarbazone, and chitosan derivatives in some potential target cells is summarized in Table 3.

Table 3: Anticancer mechanism of action of HCT as a precursor of chitosan thiosemicarbazone and chitosan derivatives in some potential target cells.

Compounds
Target cells
Mechanism of action
Test
Outcome
Year
Ref.

HCT
L1210
Inhibition of RR activity
In vitro
Antineoplastic effect
1956-89
[119–126]

Chitosan copper(II) complex
293 and HeLa cells
Checkpoint-controlled progression of cell proliferation at S phase
In vitro
Inhibition of cellular proliferation
2006 
2000
[42] 
[138]

Copper loaded chitosan nano particles
Osteocarcinoma
nano particles mediated enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect, increase in ROS level, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis
In vitro  and in vivo
Inhibition of tumor growth
2017 
2009 
2013 
2009
[96] 
[139] 
[140] 
[141]

CMCS
HUVECs 
Inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation and transformation of malignant cells 
In vitro  

Suppression of angiogenesis, decrease in VEGF and increase in TIMP1 levels  

2015 
2009 
2007 
2007 

[45] 
[82] 
[95] 
[106]   

H-22
Necrosis due to cell distortion and disintegration of nuclei
In vivo
Inhibition of tumor growth
2015
[45]

Solid tumor
Enhancement in IFN- γ and TNF- α levels, regulation of immune-related cytokines induction and immunoenhancement
In vivo  mice model
Increase in thymus index, tumor growth inhibition
2015
[45]

Chitosan thymine conjugate
HepG2
Inhibition of DNA synthesis, mRNA transcription and translation of the cancer-causing gene
In vitro
Inhibition of tumor growth
2012
[46]

SCS and SBCS
MCF-7 cells
Induction of apoptosis and blockade of the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of ERK
In vitro
Inhibition of cells proliferation
2011
[47]

G-Chi- MMC and N-Suc-Chi -MMC conjugate
Solid tumors, leukemia, metastatic liver cancer
Sustained release of drug from conjugate
In vitro and in vivo
Higher antitumor effect and less side effects
2005
[48]

Furanoallocolchicinoid- chitosan conjugate
Wnt-1 breast tumor bearing mice
Tubulin reorganization, cell cycle arrest, sequestering of colchicine molecules.
In vivo
Inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and less side effects.
2016 
2015
[49] 
[75]

3-Amino-2-phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone PPC-silver chloride nano composite
EAC and MCF-7
Sequestering of molecules from noncancer cells and sustained release to cancer cells with zero order kinetics
In vitro
Target delivery of nano particles
2017
[50, 51]

6. Nanochitosan and Its Mechanism of Anticancer Activity

Nanoparticles refer to particulate dispersions or solid particles in the range of 10-1000 nm in size [202]. Nanochitosan in this range of particle size can be prepared as biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles. Chitosan is a hydrophilic polymer, and hence nanochitosan lends itself to prolonged circulation in blood with more extravasation and passive targeting [203]. So, nanochitosan is a suitable drug delivery candidate [204, 205].

Khanmohammadi et al. prepared nanochitosan by addition of chitosan gel, obtained by dispersion of chitosan in sodium chloride solution as electrolyte in 3% acetic acid solution on stirring for two hours, in linseed oil with Span 80 as a surfactant on magnetic stirring for 30 min at room temperature, using an optimized spontaneous emulsification method with further addition of acetone and Glutaraldehyde-Saturated Toluene as a chemical cross-linking agent. Nanoparticle size was strongly dependent on synthesis parameters such as sodium chloride, surfactant, and chemical cross-linking agent. These nanoparticles were found to have particle sizes from 33.64 to 74.87 nm in average [206]. Agarwal et al. prepared nanochitosan by ionic gelation method, inducing gelation of chitosan solution with tripolyphosphate (TPP). The sizes of nanochitosan particles were optimized at different concentrations of chitosan and TPP. At chitosan concentration up to 4mg/ml and TPP concentration of less than 1.5 mg/ml, the nanoparticle size was found to range from 168-682nm [207]. Chitosan, being a biodegradable and mucoadhesive cationic polymer, has been widely used in the last few years in target delivery of anticancer chemotherapeutics to tumor cells. The chitosan nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic agent have been found more stable, permeable, and bioactive [208].

Chitosan is easily degraded by the kidney in vivo. So, during drug delivery, it appears less cytotoxic to healthy cells [209]. Drug discovery trials with nanochitosan have been more adaptable as it is biocompatible and cheap [210]. Chitosan nanoparticles are easily internalized by the cells [211] and this specificity of nanochitosan has shown its therapeutic significance in different types of cancer [17, 212, 213]. Nanochitosan has been found to show antiangiogenesis by RNA interference [17] and immune enhancement in breast cancer mice model4. Nanochitosan has been found to inhibit the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro in a sustained release manner [213].

The paclitaxel loaded modified glycol chitosan nanoparticles in the size of 400 nm has been found to show sustained release of paclitaxel to bring about the inhibition of MCF-7 tumor growth due to EPR effect in vitro [214]. Encapsulation of paclitaxel and thymoquinone in nanochitosan has been found effective in breast cancer therapy [215]. The target specificity of nanochitosan can be established through the binding of protein with chitosan nanoparticles. For instance, binding of αvβ3 integrin, with receptors for tumor cells, to nanochitosan has shown inhibition of the ovarian cancer in vivo [216]. Nanochitosan has been shown to increase the immune response in murine model by elevation of IgG, IgA, and IgM as well as IL-2, Il-4, and IL-6 receptors [217]. In acidic microenvironment with poor vasculature outside the tumor, amino group of chitosan gets protonated, the nanoparticles swell, and there is faster release of the drug. The EPR effect due to accumulation of nanochitosan macromolecules in the tumor microenvironment [218] and protonation of chitosan are significant in adaptation of nanochitosan-drug system in cancer therapy.

Chitosan-curcumin nanoformulation has been found to show anticancer activity following the apoptotic pathways associated with DNA damage, cell-cycle blockage, and elevation of ROS levels in vivo [219]. Nanochitosan has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by cell necrosis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic activity of nanochitosan is associated to suppression of VEGFR2 gene expression [17]. Nanochitosan can bring about the HCC cell death in vitro by disruption of cell membrane, lowering of negative surface charge, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of lipid peroxidation, disruption of fatty acid layer of the membrane, and fragmentation of DNA [95]. The mechanism of HCC cell growth inhibition in vivo by nanochitosan is associated with increase in apoptosis and decrease in cell proliferation. It has been found that nanochitosan is nontoxic to normal cells, but it has potent and specific cytotoxic effects on tumor cells [17].

Chitosan folate hesperetin nanoparticles (450 nm size) have been found to show apoptosis of HCT15 cells (IC₅₀ 28 μM), after passive targeting through the leaky vasculature of tumor environment, more effectively than hesperetin (IC₅₀ 28 μM) by proper regulation proapoptotic genes expression. So, chitosan folate hesperetin nanocomposite is suitable carrier of hesperetin to colorectal cancer cells in vivo [220].

Han et al. showed Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-labeled chitosan nanoparticle (RGD-CH-NP) as a novel tumor targeted delivery system for short interfering RNA (siRNA).The RGD-CH-NP loaded with siRNA was found to significantly increase (i) selective intra tumoral delivery in orthotopic animal models of ovarian cancer, (ii) targeted silencing of multiple growth-promoting genes (POSTN, FAK, and PLXDC1) along with therapeutic efficacy in the SKOV3ip1, HeyA8, and A2780 models, and (iii) in vivo delivery of PLXDC1-targeted siRNA into the alphanubeta3 integrin-positive tumor endothelial cells in the A2780 tumor-bearing mice. Overall, there was a significant inhibition of tumor growth in vivo [216].

Mechanism of anticancer activity of nanochitosan in some target cells is summarized in Table 4.

Table 4: Mechanism of anticancer activity of nanochitosan (composite) in some target cells.

Nanochitosan (composite)
Target cell(s)
Mechanism of action
Test
Outcome
Year
Ref.

Nano chitosan
Breast cancer mice model 4
Interference to RNA and immunoenhancement
In vivo
Inhibition of angiogenesis and proliferation
2010 
2015
[17] 
[211]

Human gastric cancer cells
Sustained release manner
In vitro
Inhibition of cells proliferation
2010 
2005
[17] 
[213]

Ovarian cancer cells
Binding of αvβ3 integrin with tumor cell receptors
In vivo
Inhibition of tumor growth
2010
[216]

HCC cells
Decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and fragmentation of DNA, suppression of VEGFR2 gene expression
In vitro
Cell death and inhibition of angiogenesis
2010 
2007
[17] 
[95]

Paclitaxel-glycol chitosan nano composite
MCF-7
sustained release of paclitaxel by EPR effect
In vitro
Tumor growth inhibition
2006
[214]

Chitosan-curcumin nano formulation
Solid tumor
Sustained release manner, DNA damage, cell cycle blockage and elevation of ROS levels
In vitro
Inhibition of tumor growth
2018
[219]

Chitosan folate hesperetin nanoparticles
HCT15 cells
Passive targeting through the leaky vasculature of tumor environment
In vivo
Cellular apoptosis
2018
[220]

Peptide-labeled chitosan nanoparticle
Solid tumors
Tumor targeted delivery for short interfering RNA (siRNA)
In vivo
Inhibition of tumor growth
2010
[216]

7. Chitosan and Chitosan Derivatives on Anticancer Clinical Study and Trial

Kim et al. in a phase IIb clinical study showed the complete tumor necrosis in 77.5% of the patients with HCC lesions <3 cm and 91.7% of the patients with HCC lesions <2 cm in two months after holmium-166 percutaneous (166Ho)/chitosan complex injection (PHI) therapy. Interfered by the cases of cumulative local recurrences and transient bone marrow depression, the survival rates were observed to be 87.2% for 1 year, 71.8% for 2 years, and 65.3% for 3 years. So, PHI proved a safe and novel local ablative procedure for the treatment of small HCC to be used as a bridge to transplantation and necessity of a phase III randomized active control trial in a larger study population was pointed out [221].

Clinical trials with chitosan and chitosan derivatives are being performed as (i) intervention of drug: chitosan on prostate cancer with the title ‘Study of Chitosan for Pharmacologic Manipulation of AGE (Advanced Glycation End Products) Levels in Prostate Cancer Patients’ [222], (ii) intervention of morphine, ketamine, placebo, and chitosan on cancer pain with the title ‘Comparison of Oral Morphine Versus Nasal Ketamine Spray With Chitosan in Cancer Pain Outpatients’ [223], (iii) intervention of the device adhesive barrier on axillary dissection of breast cancer with the title ‘Anti-adhesive Effect and Safety of a Mixed Solid of Poloxamer, Gelatin and Chitosan (Medichlore®) After Axillary Dissection for Breast Cancer’ [224], (iv) intervention of drug: 1% glycated chitosan and the device: photothermal laser on breast cancer stages IIIA, IIIB, and IV with the title ‘Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Use of the Laser-Assisted Immunotherapy (LIT/inCVAX) in Advanced Breast Cancer’ [225], and (v) intervention of the implant: bilaminar chitosan scaffold on cerebrospinal fluid (csf) leakage with the title ‘Chitosan Scaffold for Sellar Floor Repair in Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery’ [226].

8. Prospects of Chitosan and Its Derivatives as Anticancer Drugs

Chitosan already finds its uses as a pharmaceutical excipient [5], permeation enhancer [6], and a hemostatic agent [7]. It is being utilized as nonwoven sheet in wound healing, dressing [8], weight loss, and cholesterol management [227]. Study in vitro and in vivo has shown that many cancer cells are resistant to the chemotherapeutic drugs like cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), docetaxel, procarbazine, methotrexate, etc. in practice [228]. These chemical compounds of current therapeutic use are associated with acute and chronic, life-threatening toxicity of gastrointestinal lining, bone marrow, reticuloendothelial system, and gonads [229]. Chitosan and its derivatives, specially the chitosan-drug nanocomposites as the leading anticancer formulations, due to their selective antitumor effects, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability can be the promising natural alternatives to overcome these problems.

Cancer is a major cause of deaths across the globe and, for several decades, intensive research has been focused on more potent anticancer drug development strategies. Despite this, the clinical intervention options of chitosan are still limited for many types of human cancers [80]. Therapeutic use of chitosan-based compounds with the minimal toxicity on noncancer cells [13] is critically important.

Chitosan, with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status, has been labelled as a nontoxic and biocompatible polymer by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for wound dressing. It has been reported safe for regular oral administration (4.5 g/day) in humans for 12 weeks, after which the side effects such as mild nausea and constipation may be seen [230]. But the in vivo toxicity with the change in pharmacokinetic properties may appear in nanoparticles and derivatives upon chemical modification [209]. So, the individual assessment of toxicity profile of the compounds is necessary. In addition, solubility and biological activity of chitosan can be enhanced by increase in deacetylation and chemical modification to give chitosan derivatives [4].

The clinical trials are limited by limited accumulation in the target cells and unfavorable conditions of drug uptake, such as tumor perfusion, arteriovenous shunting, necrotic and hypoxic areas, and a high interstitial fluid pressure work. However, the targeted delivery of nanoparticulated anticancer drug can be made more effective by encapsulation of drug conjugate in chitosan nanoparticles that helps better accumulation of drug in tumor cells by EPR effect. For instance, there is targeted delivery of doxorubicin to cancer cells when its conjugate with dextran is encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (100 nm diameter) [231]. A few chitosan formulations on clinical study and trial [222–226] may prove significant in diagnosis, treatment, and pain relief management of cancer.

Chitosan and its derivatives can permeate more effectively through negatively charged tumor-cell membrane to ensure the higher bioavailability in tumor cells [79]. Correlation of their structural behavior with suppression of tumor growth and metastasis in different cellular pathways can lead to further understanding of anticancer mechanism. Chemical modification, complex formation, and graft polymerization of chitosan could open an avenue in tailoring the hybrid materials formulation of anticancer therapeutic application.

Abbreviations

AGE: | Advanced Glycation End products
Ara-C: | 1-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine
bFGF: | Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor
BM: | Basement membrane
CMCS: | Carboxymethyl chitosan
CMDB: | Carboxymethyl benzylamide dextrans
CNP: | Chitosan nanoparticles
COS: | Chitosan oligosaccharide
COX: | Cyclooxygenase
COX-2: | Cyclooxygenase-2
csf: | Cerebrospinal fluid
DDA: | Degree of deacetylation
DMSO: | Dimethyl sulfoxide
DNA: | Deoxyribonucleic acid
EAC: | Erlich ascites carcinoma
EDC: | N-Ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride
EAT: | Erlich ascites tumor
EPR: | Enhanced permeation and retention
ERK: | Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase
FACS: | Fluorescent activated cell sorbent assay
FDA: | US Food and Drug Administration
FGF-2: | Fibroblast growth factor-2
FGFR: | Fibroblast growth factor kinase receptor
5-FU: | 5-Fluorouracil
G-Chi: | Glycol chitosan
GRAS: | Generally recognized as safe
GSH: | Glutathione
GST: | Glutathione S-transferase
HMWC: | High molecular weight chitosan
HS: | Heparan sulfate
HUVECs: | Human umbilical vein endothelial cells
IELs: | Intraepithelial lymphocytes
IFN-α: | Interferon cell signaling pathway-α
IFN-γ: | Interferon cell signaling pathway-γ
IL: | Interleukin
IL-1: | Interleukin 1
IL-2: | Interleukin 2
IL-8: | Interleukin 8
iNOS: | Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase
LLC: | Lewis Lung Carcinoma
LMWC: | Low molecular weight chitosan
LPS: | Lipopolysaccharide
MCNS: | Mifepristone loaded chitosan nanoparticles
MIF: | Mifepristone
MMC: | Mitomycin C
MMP9: | Matrix metalloproteinase 9
MMPs: | Matrix metalloproteinases
mRNA: | Messenger ribonucleic acid
: | Molecular weight
NaPaC: | Phenylacetate carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran
NHS: | N-Hydroxysuccinimide
NK: | Natural killer
NK-cells: | Natural killer cells
NO: | Nitric oxide
ODC: | Ornithine decarboxylase
PDGF: | Platelets derived growth factor
PHI: | Holmium-166 percutaneous (166Ho)/chitosan complex injection
PNA: | Peptide-nucleobase conjugate
PPC: | Polypyrrole chitosan
QR: | Quinone/quinine reductase
RNA: | Ribonucleic acid
ROS: | Reactive oxygen species
RR: | Ribonucleotide reductase
SBCS: | Sulfated benzaldehyde chitosan
SCS: | Sulfated chitosan
SCC: | Squamous cell carcinoma
SCID: | Severe combined immune deficient
siRNA: | Short interfering RNA
Suc-Chi: | N-succinyl chitosan
TGF-β: | Transforming growth factor- β
TIMP 1: | Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1
TIMPs: | Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
TNF -α: | Tumor necrosis factor-α
TPA: | 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
TPP: | Tripolyphosphate
VEGF: | Vascular endothelial growth factor
VEGFR2: | Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) is gratefully acknowledged for providing the financial assistance (2017) to support our work.

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