Nanotechnology as a next generation therapeutics: Hope for cancer treatment (original) (raw)

Nanoparticle-based carriers are one of the promising approaches for diagnosis and treatment of cancer which may bring hope in cancer patients in near future because of their unique physical, chemical and biological properties which allow them to bind, adsorb, and carry both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, molecules, and imaging agents with higher efficiency. Several biodegradable and biocompatible nanoparticles have been developed for cancer therapy such as liposomes, polymer-based nanoparticles, polymersomes, micelles, proteins, dendrimers, and inorganic nanoparticles. In this chapter, we will discuss the synthesis and properties of nanoparticles, and different types of nanoparticle technologies developed for cancer therapy. We will also highlight the photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and theranostic agents manufactured for cancer therapy and diagnosis. This chapter also examines nanotherapeutics which is approved and is in clinical and preclinical stages. Moreover, we...