title: Recent developments in hyaluronic acid-based nanomedicine for targeted cancer treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyaluronic acid (HA) has emerged as a promising applicant for the tumor-targeted delivery of various therapeutic agents. Because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability and receptor-binding properties, HA has been extensively investigated as the drug delivery carrier. In this review, recent advances in HA-based nanomedicines are discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on HA-based nanomedicines for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In particular, recent advances in HA-drug conjugates and HA-based nanoparticles for small molecular drug delivery are discussed. The bioreducible HA conjugates for small interfering ribonucleic acid delivery have been also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To develop a successful HA-based nanomedicine, it has to be prepared without significant deterioration of intrinsic property of HA. The chemical modification of HA with drugs or hydrophobic moieties may reduce the binding affinity of HA to the receptors. In addition, since the HA-based nanomedicines tend to accumulate in the liver after their systemic administration, new strategies to overcome this issue have to be developed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: N Vijayakameswara
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Yeol
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Sciences and Technology , SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyewon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Sciences and Technology , SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minchang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hansang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: c School of Pharmacy , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: d School of Medicine , Kyungpook National University , Daegu , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Mo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical Engineering , Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.|b Department of Health Sciences and Technology , SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011485:Protein Binding; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Drug conjugates; hyaluronic acid; polymeric nanoparticles; tumor-targeted therapy