enhancing the anticancer activity of curcumin via chitosan-based nanomedicine approaches: a systematic review

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, primarily driven by uncontrolled cell proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, and accumulation of genetic mutations. while conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy offer clinical benefits, their effectiveness is often compromised by systemic toxicity and nonspecific targeting. curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol derived from curcuma longa, has demonstrated broad spectrum anticancer activity through its ability to modulate proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis related pathways. however, its clinical potential is limited by poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid systemic clearance. to overcome these limitations, chitosan, a natural, biodegradable polysaccharide derived from chitin, has emerged as an effective nanocarrier for curcumin. this systematic review, conducted in accordance with prisma guidelines, evaluates original studies from 2015 to 2025 on curcumin-loaded chitosan nanomedicine in cancer therapy. findings consistently demonstrate that this nanosystems enhance curcumin's cytotoxicity, stability, and targeted delivery. these interventions promote apoptosis, induce g2/m cell cycle arrest, and modulate oncogenic signaling pathways including pi3k/akt/mtor and tp53/caspase-3. notably, synergistic effects were observed when curcumin-loaded chitosan nanosystems were combined with conventional therapies such as cisplatin and hyperthermia, improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing systemic toxicity. in vivo studies further validate their translational potential, indicating significant tumor suppression and improved survival rates. collectively, these nanosystems represent a promising nanomedicine platform for more effective and safer cancer treatment.