Role of Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy

Cancer prevalence across the globe has increased substantially in the last two decades despite significant progress in inpatient care. Cancer, a multifactorial disease, evolved several theories to establish pathophysiological conditions. Uncontrolled proliferation, dedifferentiation and metastasis mainly describe the cancer progression, which must be characterized by cellular and molecular changes. Understanding these processes helps devise the strategy for effectively delivering the drugs to the target sites. The present review described the essential features of cancer pathophysiology and challenges to achieving drug concentration in the targeted area.

The revolution of nanomedicine has emerged as an array of biological products in the pharmaceutical field. Their peculiarity of nanosize has been a benefit for the detection and prevention of diseases by application of engineered nanodevices and nanostructures. This presents range of opportunities, that are suitable for most drugs, prevents side effects, and enhances patient compliance. Nanomedicine has fascinated medical research in developing different multifunctional nanostructures like dendrimers, nanoparticles, micelles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, etc. However, there are still certain impedes to bringing out the best amongst these nanomedicines. This chapter will spotlight the recent advances of multifunctional nanomedicine, solely to combat cancer disease conditions, that can offer improvement in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the conventional approaches and optimize the efficacy of the existing anticancer drugs. In recent years, combination therapy has also shown good improvement in cancer therapy as compared to monotherapy. The theranostic application can offer a good alternative to cancer treatment. So, when the insights are combined with new nanotechnology-based therapy, targeted drug delivery can be obtained to avoid the side effects, but the concern of their toxicity should also be noted. Hence, nanomedicine represents one of the advanced fields that combine nanotechnology and medicine for improved efficiency and safety to human health, through the study of elucidation of cellular and molecular mechanisms, to design performant nano-delivery as an efficient tool for the treatment of cancer. Thus, the exploration of the properties needs to be understood to execute the unmet needs and attain project cost benefits.

Recent development and advances in the application of nanotechnology in the field of medicine have led to the evolution of multifunctional “smart” nanocarriers that are capable of delivering one or more therapeutic agents effectively, safely and selectively to tumor cells, including intracellular gene-specific targeting. Dendrimers have a high level of control over the synthesis of dendritic architecture, well-defined size, shape, molecular weight, membrane interaction and monodispersity, making them a perfect example of one such multifunctional smart nanocarrier. The 3D nano-polymeric architecture of dendrimer makes it an appropriate choice for drug and gene delivery vectors. The functional groups attached on the surface of dendrimers permit the addition of other moieties that can actively target certain diseases, which are now widely used as tumor-targeting strategies. Along with being compact and globular in structure, dendrimers also exhibit interior cavity spaces and multiple surface functional groups, which play a vital role in encapsulating drug molecules both in the interior of the dendrimers (physical encapsulation) as well as in the surface functional groups (covalent conjugations). The application of dendrimers in biomedicine has recently attracted much attention worldwide. Dendrimers are interesting in the field of biomedical applications due to their unique characteristics.

People have been suffering from cancer and associated problems for many years. A great amount of improvement has occurred in the field of medical science, and it certainly has benefitted humankind to help live a happy and prosperous life. Despite all these things, cancer treatment remains a provocative question as every year cases are increasing; on the contrary, there are a lot of difficulties associated with cancer treatment. To cope with these unique and mischievous problems, nanotechnology is considered a boon. Various nanoparticle facilitates the required characteristics to deliver a specific active therapeutic agent against the cancer cells. They can be targeted and even modified to fulfill specific pharmacokinetic parameters vital for in vivo delivery of drugs along with Nano-systems. This chapter here focuses on various types of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery of certain therapeutic agents.

Cancer is the world's second leading cause of death, and new cancer cases are expected to increase dramatically in the next decades. Many biotechnologists and medical researchers are actively involved in finding issues related to cancer detection and treatment efficacy. Given the difficulties of traditional chemotherapy, the targeted drug delivery system (DDS) of chemotherapeutics for cancer therapy through nanoparticles (NPs) carriers is a growing field of research. Researchers have concentrated on surface modification of NPs or nanocarriers using biological ligands in addition to optimizing their physicochemical characteristics. Several in-vivo investigations have shown that virus-sized stealth NPs may circulate in the blood for a longer period and preferentially concentrate at tumor sites due to the increased permeability and retention (EPR) effect, also known as the passive targeting strategy. Surface modification of stealth NPs with specific biological ligands may result in enhanced retention and accumulation of NPs in tumor sites, referred to as an “active targeting strategy”. This chapter outlined some key points regarding each strategy's impact and how combining some or all of them has proven beneficial in tumor targeting. After a brief introduction to existing cancer treatments and their drawbacks, we discussed the biological obstacles that NPs must overcome, followed by several forms of DDS to increase drug accumulation in the tumor site. Then, using active targeting strategies, we also describe various receptors present on cancer cells that enhance cellular drug targeting. A substantial quantity of information has been summarized in tables on different polymeric NPs conjugated with selective targeting ligands such as proteins, polysaccharides, peptides, and aptamers to small molecules. With the potential of maximizing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects, ligandmediated-DDS has emerged as an essential platform for safe and effective tumor treatment.

Ever since the success of producing inhalable insulin, drug delivery via pulmonary administration has been an intriguing way to treat chronic disorders. Pulmonary delivery system for nanotechnology is a relatively recent approach, especially when related to lung cancer therapy. The therapeutic ratio is increased by inhalation delivery, which delivers a high dose of the drug directly to the lungs without damaging other body organs. Despite extensive studies into targeted delivery and specific molecular inhibitors (gene delivery), cytotoxic drug delivery via inhalation is still considered a critical component of lung cancer treatment. Nanotechnology-based inhalation chemotherapy has been proven to be practical and more successful than conventional chemotherapy, with fewer adverse effects. Many nanocarriers have recently been studied for inhalation treatments of lung cancer, including liposomes, polymeric micelles, polymeric NPs, solid lipid NPs, and inorganic NPs. The potential for NPs-based local lung cancer targeting via inhalation, as well as the challenges that come with it, are explored here. 

Mesoporous silica has been gaining popularity as a drug delivery medium in recent years. Materials scientists have used these inorganic carriers successfully in other fields, including catalysis, purification, and adsorption. A major challenge in medicine is delivering drugs to defective cells or tumor cells in a way that has minimal toxic side effects. Due to the poor physicochemical and biological properties of a drug molecule like solubility, permeability, absorption and bioavailability, patients may have to take high doses of the drug to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Various drug carriers are available in the pharmaceutical industry to help solve this problem. Biocompatible, chemically, and thermally stable nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), are ideal for this application. During the last few years, research on the mesoporous-based delivery system has been studied vigorously. These materials act as drug carriers for the delivery of different therapeutic agents. This versatility is because they are used for the loading of small molecules and macromolecules such as proteins and siRNA. Mesoporous materials as a drug delivery system were discussed in this chapter. Specifically, it provides an overview of the synthesis, structural configurations, and their roles in loading and delivering therapeutic agents for the anticancer agents used in prostate cancer. The applications of these materials in prostate cancer for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment, were explored.

This chapter focuses on skin cancer, which is represented by the accumulation of cells in one part of the skin. It enhances the form of the cells which line up along the membrane and separates the deep layer of the skin from the superficial layer. The recent skin cancer treatment includes surgical or excision biopsy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, Mohs micrographic surgery, radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, therapeutic hyperthermia, immunotherapy, etc. The drawback of skin cancer treatment with these therapies are skin irritation at the site of treatment and variation in the skin color or dark pigmentation after treatment, chances of cancer reoccurrence, longer treatment period and many more. Whereas, nanotechnology materials are used to deliver controlled and sustained drug dosage to skin cancer through the skin over a period of time without any skin irritation and other problems associated with recent treatments. The various kinds of nanotechnology products mentioned in this chapter offer numerous advantages for skin cancer, such as increased solubility, drug release in a sustained and controlled manner, better penetration through skin layers and precise site of action. This chapter discusses the various types and causes of skin cancer, current treatments and their limitations, as well as the role of nanotechnology and its products in skin cancer with its future outlook.

Gastric cancer is the world's second leading cause of cancer-related death. Due to inadequate drug release and limited residence time at the absorption site, traditional oral dose forms have poor/low bioavailability. GRDDS is particularly useful for increasing the bioavailability of medications with a narrow absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract and for treating local diseases. Polymeric nanofibers have sparked a lot of attention among the numerous nanomaterials used in high-tech applications because of their simplicity of production, controlled size/shape, and characteristics. Filtration, barrier fabrics, wipes, personal care, and biological and pharmaceutical applications have been intensively researched with polymeric nanofibers. Electrospun polymeric nanofibers have recently been demonstrated to be a promising approach for drug delivery systems. The nanofiber method allows for stomach-specific drug release for a more extended period and improves local drug action due to the drug's extended contact time with the gastric mucosa. As a result, nanofiber technology appears to be a promising strategy for gastric retention drug delivery systems. 

Nanotechnology and its applications have been a rapidly growing area of research in the previous two decades. In the domain of pharmaceutical research, nanotechnology is applied in the study and preparation of nano-size range materials ranging from 1-100nm. Nanoparticulate medications or nano drug delivery systems are not a novel concept, but they are a rapidly evolving nanoscience. In nanomedicine, nanoscale materials are used to develop diagnostic tools or to deliver active substances to a particular place in a consistent and controlled manner. Nanoparticles have groveled in many different forms, including liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, emulsions, suspension nanocrystals, micelles, and dendrimers. When compared to pure drugs or other conventional formulations, these all have improved medication efficacy or therapeutic effect. Nanoparticles are being employed in a variety of fields, including cosmetics. However, as nanotechnology progressed, numerous controversies arise concerning nanoparticles. Consumer safety, as well as environmental repercussions, must be regulated. Nanotechnology has life-changing applications, yet nanoparticle regulation has been inconsistent and insufficient. Failure in biotechnology regulation in recent years has resulted in several negative consequences for the environment and human health. This article aims to raise knowledge about the importance of regulatory frameworks for nanotechnology and nanoparticles.

Cancer is one of the most common and distressing diseases. Cancer-related mortality and prevalence have both grown in the last 50 years. Due to its intricacy and progressive nature, cancer remains one of the most debilitating diseases in humans, and clinical care for this lethal disease remains a challenge in the twenty-first century. New and better cancer medicines are constantly needed. Due to the rising global incidence of cancer, the development of novel alternatives to traditional medicines is unavoidable to overcome constraints, such as limited efficacy, comorbidities and high cost. Microneedle arrays (MNs) have just been introduced as an innovative, low-cost, and minimally invasive technique. MNs can safely and precisely deliver micromolecular and macromolecular pharmaceuticals, as well as nanoparticles (NPs), to tumor tissue. However, only a few lipophilic pharmacological compounds with low molecular weight and a rational Log P value were able to pass the skin barrier. Microneedles (MNs) can circumvent these constraints by piercing the body's outermost skin layer and delivering a variety of medications into the dermal layer. MN patches have been made with a variety of materials and application methods. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) printing “A touch button approach” gives the prototyping and manufacturing methods the flexibility to produce the MN patches in a one-step manner with high levels of shape complexity and duplicability.