Nanotechnology-based strategies in cancer medicine: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide and poses a major challenge in health research, requiring constant innovation in order to make significant progress. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising technology with the potential to revolutionize cancer medicine. This bibliographic review provides a comprehensive overview of the available literature on the use of nanotechnology in cancer research. The superior properties and diversity of nanomaterials make them ideal candidates for targeting cancer cells and delivering therapeutic drugs. Several types of nanoparticles, such as liposomes, polymers or quantum dots, along with their applications in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment are discussed in detail. The high specific yield and the facility to modify and functionalize them with ligands for specific targets make nanoparticles useful tools in cancer therapy. Although the use of nanotechnology in cancer treatment is quite new, the number of clinical trials and approved nanoparticles is constantly increasing. This review further explores nanotechnology-based strategies in various areas of cancer therapy such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and photothermal and photodynamic therapy. It also highlights some of the current challenges, including nanoparticle design optimization, overcoming biological barriers and minimizing possible toxicity and side effects to improve drug delivery and targeting. Recent studies have also focused on improving the stability, biocompatibility and controlled release of therapeutic nanoparticles. Furthermore, nanotechnology can also play a significant role in the early detection of cancer through its application in tumor imaging diagnostic techniques, increasing resolution and sensitivity. Lastly, this review also discusses some potential future steps, such as the combination of different nanotechnology-based therapies. Continuous research and collaboration among scientists are of utmost importance to overcome current challenges and maximize the therapeutic potential of nanotechnology in cancer medicine