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Application of Nanotechnology in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy - A Mini-Review
Cancan Jin1, Kankai Wang2, Anthony Oppong-Gyebi3
1Department of Oncology, Affiliated Dongyang People's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang 322100,China.
Abstract:
Cancer is a leading cause of death and poor quality of life globally. Even though several strategies are devised to reduce deaths, reduce chronic pain and improve the quality of life, there remains a shortfall in the adequacies of these cancer therapies. Among the cardinal steps towards ensuring optimal cancer treatment are early detection of cancer cells and drug application with high specificity to reduce toxicities. Due to increased systemic toxicities and refractoriness with conventional cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools, other strategies including nanotechnology are being employed to improve diagnosis and mitigate disease severity. Over the years, immunotherapeutic agents based on nanotechnology have been used for several cancer types to reduce the invasiveness of cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells at the target site. Nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, polymeric micelles and liposomes have been used in cancer drug design where they have shown considerable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we outline the commonly used nanomaterials which are employed in cancer diagnosis and therapy. We have highlighted the suitability of these nanomaterials for cancer management based on their physicochemical and biological properties. We further reviewed the challenges that are associated with the various nanomaterials which limit their uses and hamper their translatability into the clinical setting in certain cancer types.
Insights
Nanotechnology offers improved cancer diagnosis and treatment by utilizing nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and liposomes. This review explores their benefits and challenges for effective cancer management.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with current therapies often exhibiting limitations in specificity and leading to systemic toxicities.
- Early cancer detection and targeted drug delivery are crucial for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
- Conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches face challenges of refractoriness and significant side effects, necessitating innovative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review commonly used nanomaterials in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
- To highlight the suitability of these nanomaterials for cancer management based on their properties.
- To discuss challenges hindering the clinical translation of nanomaterial-based cancer treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of nanomaterials applied in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
- Analysis of physicochemical and biological properties of selected nanomaterials.
- Evaluation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefits of nanomaterials in preclinical and clinical settings.
Main Results:
- Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, polymeric micelles, and liposomes demonstrate significant potential in cancer drug design.
- These nanomaterials offer improved diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic efficacy, reducing invasiveness and sparing healthy cells.
- Various nanomaterials have shown considerable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantages in cancer management.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology-based immunotherapeutic agents and drug delivery systems show promise for enhancing cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Understanding the properties of nanomaterials is key to optimizing their application in personalized cancer therapy.
- Overcoming challenges related to nanomaterial safety, efficacy, and clinical translation is essential for widespread adoption in oncology.
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