Title:Nanotechnology, A Tool for Diagnostics and Treatment of Cancer
Volume: 21
Issue: 15
Author(s): Abdul Nasir, Amir Khan, Jiayi Li, Muhammad Naeem, Atif Ali Khan Khalil, Khalid Khan and Muhammad Qasim*
Affiliation:
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054,New Zealand
Keywords:
Metallic nanoparticles, Green synthesis, Cancer, Diagnostics, Conventional Therapy, Targeted delivery.
Abstract: Nanotechnology has shown promising advancements in the field of drug development
and its delivery. In particular, the applications of nanoparticles for treatment and diagnostics of cancer
reached such a precision that it can detect a single cancer cell and target it to deliver a payload
for the treatment of that cancerous cell. Conventional cancer therapy methods have side effects,
and diagnostics techniques are time-consuming and expensive. Nanoparticles (NPs) such as polymeric
nanoparticles (nanogels, nanofibers, liposomes), metallic nanoparticles such as gold NP
(GNPs), sliver NP (AgNP), calcium nanoparticles (CaNPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene,
and quantum dots (QDs) have revolutionized cancer diagnostics and treatments due to their high
surface charge, size, and morphology. Functionalization of these nanoparticles with different biological
molecules, such as antibodies, helps them to target delivery and early detection of cancer
cells through their plasmon resonance properties. While some of the magnetic properties of nanoparticles
such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and carbon NT were also evaluated for detection and treatments
of cancer cells. An advanced type of nanoparticles, such as nanobubbles and oxygen-releasing
polymers, are helping to address the hypoxia conditions in the cancer microenvironment, while
others are employed in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) due to their
intrinsic theranostic properties. The green synthesis of nanoparticles has further increased biocompatibility
and broadened their applications. In this review paper, we discussed the advancement in
nanotechnology and its applications for cancer treatment and diagnostics and highlighted challenges
for translation of these advanced nano-based techniques for clinical applications and their
green synthesis.
