Nanomaterials innovation as an enabler for effective cancer interventions

Nanomedicines have been developing very rapidly and have started to play a significant role in several cancer therapeutic modalities. Early on, the nanomedicine field focused on optimizing pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and/or biodistribution of an agent through nanoparticle formulation. In other cases, where materials science is employed more decisively, nanomedicine can include the creation of new agents that take advantage of nanoscale materials properties to enhance treatment efficacy through unique mode of action, molecular targeting, or controlled drug release. Both current and future nanomedicines will seek to contribute to the therapeutic and diagnostic landscape through creative leveraging of mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, and biological nanomaterial properties. In this work, we discuss how by modulating these material properties, one can design more diverse and more effective cancer interventions. We focus on six areas in cancer management, including in vitro diagnostics, clinical imaging, theranostics, combination therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy.