Latest tools in fight against cancer: Nanomedicines

Abstract

The application of nanotechnology in cancer management is being studied for specifically targeting cancer cells and destroying them with minimum damage to healthy tissues or using the nanoscale devices to detect cancer cells before they have formed tumors. Since the nanoparticles are much smaller than human cells, they easily move in and out of most cells just like large biomolecules of our body and can easily interact with other molecules on the surface as well as inside of the cells. Though the technology is not more than four decades old, it has produced substantial number of nanodiagnostic and nanotherapeutic agents with higher efficiency and safety. Nanotechnology has given a new insight for cancer treatment because of its potential to overcome the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. An array of nanovehicle platforms can be designed which can specifically target the cancerous tissues, have high drug-loading capacities, and are favorable for endocytic intracellular uptake.