Research progress on drug delivery systems based on traditional chinese medicine polysaccharides for the treatment of colon cancer

Abstract

Colon cancer continues to be one of the most prevalent malignancies globally, and its treatment remains constrained by drug resistance and significant adverse effects, highlighting the need for safer and more effective therapies. Polysaccharides derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCMPs) have garnered increasing interest due to their natural origin, biocompatibility, and diverse biological activities. This review highlights that TCMPs can function both as therapeutic agents, capable of inhibiting tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, modulating immunity, and reshaping the gut microbiota, and as functional carriers for colon-targeted drug delivery. This dual role enables a synergistic strategy by integrating therapeutic and carrier properties within a single molecule. However, clinical translation is hindered by structural heterogeneity and insufficient standardization. Future research should focus on elucidating structure–activity relationships, establishing rigorous quality control, and developing intelligent delivery platforms to facilitate the translation of these polysaccharides from bench to bedside, thereby offering new avenues for advanced colon cancer therapy.