Applications of nanotechnology in medicine and
cancer are becoming increasingly popular. Common nanomaterials and devices applicable in
cancer medicine are classifiable as
liposomes, polymeric-
micelles,
dendrimers, nano-cantilevers,
carbon nanotubes,
quantum dots, magnetic-nanoparticles,
gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and certain miscellaneous nanoparticles. Here, we present review of the structure, function and utilities of the various approved, under trial and pretrial nanodevices applicable in the
cancer care and medicine. The
liposomes are
phospholipid-vesicles made use in carrying drugs to the target site minimizing the bio-distribution toxicity and a number of such
theranostics have been approved for clinical practice. Newly worked out
liposomes and polymeric
micelles are under the trail phases for nano-therapeutic utility. A multifunctional
dendrimer conjugate with imaging, targeting and drug molecules of
paclitaxel has been recently synthesized for
cancer theranostic applications. Nano-cantilever based assays are likely going to replace the conventions methods of chemical pathological investigations.
Carbon nanotubes are emerging for utility in regenerative and
cancer medicine.
Quantum dots hold great promise for the micro-
metastasis and intra-operative
tumor imaging. Important applications of magnetic nanoparticles are in the cardiac
stents,
photodynamic therapy and liver
metastasis imaging. The AuNPs have been employed for cell imaging, computed tomography and
cancer therapy. Besides these categories, miscellaneous other nanoparticles are being discovered for utility in the
cancer diagnosis and disease management. However, the use of nanoparticles should be cautious since the toxic effects of nanoparticles are not well-known. The use of nanoparticles in the clinical practice and their toxicity profile require further extensive research.