| Search for newer technology has always fascinated | | | | tested in mice, the Nan structure-based therapy was |
| researchers. Nano technology is a multidisciplinary field, | | | | 10 times as effective at delaying tumor growth and |
| which recently has emerged as one of the most | | | | far less toxic than the drug given alone. Researchers |
| propitious field in cancer treatment. Nano technology | | | | believe the therapy could transform many cancers |
| is definitely a medical boon for diagnosis, treatment | | | | from killer into chronic, treatable diseases.4,5 The |
| and prevention of cancer disease. It supports and | | | | major goals in designing nanoparticles as a delivery |
| expands the scientific advances in genomic and | | | | system are to control particle size, surface properties |
| proteomics and builds on our understanding of the | | | | and release of pharmacologically active agents in |
| molecular underpinnings of cancer and its treatment. | | | | order to achieve the site-specific action of the drug |
| The various nanotechnological approaches in cancer | | | | at the therapeutically optimal rate and dose regimen. |
| treatment have been encompassed in the current | | | | Though liposome have been used as potential carriers |
| article. One of them includes localized delivery of heat | | | | with unique advantages including protecting drugs |
| and the localized imaging of biological materials | | | | from degradation, targeting to site of action and |
| through nanoparticles. The delivery may be in vitro or | | | | reduction toxicity or side effects, their applications |
| in vivo and is useful for the localized treatment of | | | | are limited due to inherent problems such as low |
| cancer and disorders involving over proliferation of | | | | encapsulation efficiency, rapid leakage of |
| tissue. Other approach relates to a novel process of | | | | water-soluble drug in the presence of blood |
| manufacture of nanoparticles of substantially water | | | | components and poor storage stability. On the other |
| insoluble materials from emulsions. These emulsions | | | | hand, polymeric nanoparticles offer some specific |
| have the ability to form a single liquid phase upon | | | | advantages over liposome. For instance, they help to |
| dilution of the external phase, instantly producing | | | | increase the stability of drugs/proteins and possess |
| dispersible solid nanoparticles. The formed | | | | useful controlled release properties. The purpose of |
| nanoparticles can be used in a wide range of | | | | the chemotherapy and radiation is to kill the tumor |
| therapeutic treatments of cancer. Additional approach | | | | cells as these cells are more susceptible to the |
| comprises of solid tumors having an acidic extra | | | | actions of these drugs and methods because of their |
| cellular environment and an altered pH gradient across | | | | growth at a much faster rate than healthy cells, at |
| their cell compartments. Nanoparticles responsive to | | | | least in adults. Research efforts to improve |
| the pH gradients are promising for cancer drug | | | | chemotherapy over the past 25 years have led to an |
| delivery. Such pH-responsive nanoparticles consist of | | | | improvement in patient survival but there is still a |
| a corona and a core, one or both of which respond | | | | need for improvement.6, 7 Current research areas |
| to the external pH to change their soluble/insoluble or | | | | include development of carriers to allow alternative |
| charge states, thereby they have therapeutic | | | | dosing routes, new therapeutic targets such as blood |
| advantages over the conventional pH-insensitive | | | | vessels fueling tumor growth and targeted |
| counterparts. An alternative advancement discloses a | | | | therapeutics that are more specific in their activity. |
| method/system utilizing interaction of electromagnetic | | | | Several nano biotechnologies mostly based on |
| pulses or ultrasonic radiation with nano- and micro | | | | nanoparticles, have been used to facilitate drug |
| particles for enhancement of drug delivery in solid | | | | delivery in cancer. The magic of nanoparticles |
| tumors. These particles can be attached to antibodies | | | | mesmerizes everyone because of their multifunctional |
| directed against antigens in tumor vasculature and | | | | character and they have given us hope for the |
| selectively delivered to tumor blood vessel wall. A | | | | recovery from this disease. Although we are |
| widespread understanding of these new technologies | | | | practicing better drug delivery paths into the body, |
| can provide essential breakthroughs in the fight | | | | we ultimately seek more accurate protocols to |
| against cancer. | | | | eradicate cancer from our society. This review will |
| Tiny man-made nanoparticles have been used to | | | | primarily address new methods for delivering drugs, |
| successfully smuggle a powerful cancer drug into | | | | both old and new, with a focus on nano particle |
| tumor cells leaving healthy cells unharmed. When | | | | formulations and ones that specifically target tumors. |