Natural polymer–based drug delivery system for breast cancer: a systematic review of pectin and chitosan

Natural polymers are increasingly explored as sustainable and biocompatible materials for drug delivery system (DDS) in cancer treatment. Among various candidates, pectin–chitosan have gained considerable attention due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and the presence of functional groups that support effective drug polymer interactions. This article presents a systematic review of recent studies on chitosan and pectin–based drug delivery system for breast cancer, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Relevant literature was collected from major scientific databases, with emphasis on polymer characteristics, fabrication techniques, drug loading mechanisms, and release profiles. The reviewed studies indicate that key physicochemical properties of pectin–chitosan such as molecular weight, degree of deacetylation or esterification, and surface charge significantly influence nanoparticle stability, drug encapsulation efficiency, and controlled drug release behavior. In addition, this review discusses commonly applied fabrication approaches, including ionic gelation, polyelectrolyte complex formation, and polymer modification, highlighting the relationship between polymer structure and delivery performance. A comparative analysis of chitosan and pectin–based systems is presented, outlining their respective advantages, limitations, and current challenges related to reproducibility, scalability, and environmental sustainability. Overall, this systematic review provides a polymer–focused perspective on the development of natural polymer–based drug delivery system and provides insights that may support future research toward environmentally friendly and effective DDS for breast cancer therapy.