MUC1 aptamer-functionalized chitosan nanoparticles: Targeted delivery platforms for synergistic cancer therapy and multidrug resistance overcoming.

Recent advances in nanomedicine have paved the way for innovative targeted cancer therapies, particularly through the development of multifunctional nanoscale drug delivery systems. MUC1 aptamer-functionalized chitosan nanoparticles have emerged as a promising platform for the precise delivery of therapeutic agents to MUC1-overexpressing tumors. This review article synthesizes recent studies that employ these engineered nanocarriers to enhance therapeutic efficacy and mitigate multidrug resistance (MDR) in various cancer models. The integration of MUC1 aptamers onto chitosan-based nanoparticles significantly improves tumor cell internalization and tumor-specific accumulation, thereby enhancing the cytotoxicity of encapsulated chemotherapeutics such as 5-fluorouracil, SN-38, epirubicin, and docetaxel. Additionally, these systems have been combined with RNA interference agents, photothermal.