Abstract

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN CANCER TREATMENT: A REVIEW

Akshay Sharma* and Dr. Satinder Kaur

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology has been explored and widely studied for its applications in cancer treatment as the nanoparticles are supposed to be more effective in terms of targeted delivery, higher bioavailability, enhanced permeability, retention effect and stability etc. Nanotechnology plays a significant role as drug delivery system. Nanoparticles are classified into 2 types: Metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles but both of them have certain advantages and disadvantages. The researchers are now focused on overcoming the drawbacks of each type and combining the advantages of both nanoparticles as hybrid nanoparticles. They are effective in overcoming drug resistance and do not have any side effects or adverse effects on healthy tissues/ cells. The nano approach is much more successful in cancer treatment when compared to conventional methods. Moreover, scientists are more focused to investigate the role of nanoparticles in immunotherapy, which plays a more important role in cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the roles of nanoparticles and hybrid nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer treatment, types of nanoparticles and methods to prepare nanoparticles. An overview of reviews was conducted to locate published literature between 2000 and 2020.

Keywords: Targeted drug delivery, Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Drug resistance, Metallic nanoparticles, non-metallic nanoparticles, Effective delivery.