Title:Carbon Nanotubes in the Treatment of Skin Cancers: Safety and Toxic ological Aspects
Volume: 5
Issue: 2
Author(s): Nida Akhtar and Kamla Pathak*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Pharmacy College Saifai, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh 206130,India
Keywords:
Carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, preclinical studies, skin cancer, targeted delivery, toxicity.
Abstract: Background: Skin cancer is depicted to be the most common malignant disease across the
globe that is frequently diagnosed in people bearing light skin. Three common forms of skin cancers
are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Treatment of skin cancers
comprises of various forms of management strategies that can help in curing the disease including
the use of several therapeutic agents. Though numerous therapies have been explored till date to deliver
the active therapeutics, nanoparticulate based targeted therapy has garnered considerable interest
and is a promising approach in treating skin cancers.
Objective: The present review aims to explore a novel nano-sized carrier, carbon nanotubes for the delivery
of various actives researched for skin cancer treatment. The write up traces the pre-clinical and
clinical reports on carbon nanotubes. The feasibility of the nanoparticulate system has been elaborated
inclusive of the safety and toxicological aspects of the carrier system.
Conclusion: From the reviewed literature it can be concluded that carbon nanotubes are the emerging
treatment modality in skin cancers as they offer targeted delivery to the cancerous cells, act selectively
and provide better penetration in the neoplastic cells due to improved permeability and retention effect.
