Targeting Cancer with Sweet Precision: Saccharide-Grafted Erlotinib for Enhanced Drug Delivery

This study aims to enhance the targeting of erlotinib by grafting saccharides—galactose, pectin, and chitosan via oxalyl chloride-mediated processes. The objective is to evaluate the potential of these saccharide derivatives as ligands for targeted drug delivery, particularly to improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatments.

Saccharides (galactose, pectin, and chitosan) were chemically grafted onto erlotinib, forming conjugates. Characterization was conducted using 1H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The conjugates’ drug delivery efficiency was tested using A549 cell lines to assess their efficacy in targeting cancer cells.

Characterization confirmed the successful grafting of saccharides onto erlotinib, as evidenced by 1H NMR, DSC, and FTIR. The in vitro drug release study demonstrated enhanced targeting efficiency of the saccharide-erlotinib conjugates, with improved cell-specific distribution and potential therapeutic benefits.

Grafting saccharides onto erlotinib offers a promising approach to enhance drug absorption, reduce degradation, and minimize side effects in cancer therapy. This targeted drug delivery strategy represents a significant advancement in biomedical engineering for optimizing cancer treatment efficacy.