Chemical modifications of cellulose nanoparticles for anticancer applications: perspective since 2020

The versatile applications of cellulose nanomaterials derived from natural sources that possess desirable physicochemical properties have garnered significant interest across various disciplines. This contribution focuses on cellulose nanoparticles, which exhibit considerable potential for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue regeneration, as well as interfacial applications such as catalysis. The ability to modify the surface properties of these nanoparticles by the application of specific and functional groups significantly broadens the range of potential biological applications, with a particular emphasis on cancer treatment. These functionalized nanoparticles exhibit desirable biocompatibility and possess the capability to control biodistribution patterns and are therefore highly appropriate for the advancement of innovative treatment strategies. We review anticancer applications from 2020 to 2024 of these cellulose nanoparticles from a structure-property-function perspective brought out by chemical modifications on the backbone of cellulose structure through various approaches, like carboxymethylation, oxidation, hydroxy propylation, amination reactions, nanogels, and so on. We also pay special attention to a much-overlooked aspect of understanding the interaction of these cellulose nanoparticles in cancerous cells through in vitro methods like MTT assay, western blotting, etc., and in vivo methods.