Nanotechnology has gained much interest over the past few years due to its
ability to efficiently detect and treat different types of cancers. To overcome the
limitations associated with traditional cancer treatment strategies such as lack of
specificity, toxic effects, the pre-mature release of the drug, and multidrug resistance,
nanomaterials have been widely utilized. Nanomaterials not only enhance the drug
accumulation at a specific site but also improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer
drugs. Some other advantages of nanocarriers include targeted and controlled drug
delivery, less toxic effects, enhanced solubility and stability, and greater availability of
chemotherapeutic agents to the cancer cells due to enhanced permeability and retention
effect. The physicochemical properties of nanocarriers can be modified by varying
their shapes, sizes, and surface characteristics (PEGylation, ligand, or functional group
attachment). Various types of nanomaterials have been utilized for pharmaceutical and
medical purposes, most importantly for cancer therapy, depending upon their nature
and composition, such as lipid-based, polymeric-based, protein-based, carbon-based,
and hybrid nanomaterials. Many of these nanocarrier drug delivery systems have been
developed, among which only a few have been clinically approved for anti-cancer drug
delivery. The rationale of using nanotechnology for anticancer drugs is to achieve
targeted delivery via active or passive targeting and diminish the damages to healthy
tissues. So, the ultimate objective of these nanocarriers is to effectively treat the
diseases with fewer side effects.
Keywords: Active Targeting, Carbon Nanotubes, Mesoporous SilicaNanomaterials, Nanomaterials, Nanocarriers, Polymeric Nanocarriers, PassiveTargeting.
