Cancer has become one of the leading causes of human morbidity and
mortality worldwide. A promising approach to tumour prevention is to eliminate cancer
cells, preferably with less harm to neighbouring normal cells. Due to the disadvantages
associated with current chemotherapy and radiation therapy, there is an increasing
interest in developing novel delivery strategies for these natural products. Many
phytochemicals show promise in cancer prevention and treatment due to their
biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, low resistance, and dynamic physiochemical
properties that discriminate normal cells in the treatment of various cancer types.
However, their low aqueous solubility, poor stability, unfavourable bioavailability, and
low target specificity make their administration at therapeutic doses unrealistic.
Recently developed nanotechnology has transformed drug delivery concepts and paved
the way for the development of phytochemical-loaded nanoparticles for cancer
prevention and treatment. Polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, carbon-based
nanoparticles, and cell-derived nanoparticles can increase the stability and solubility of
phytochemicals and also help in overcoming the disadvantages associated with
conventional chemotherapy and phytochemicals. In the current chapter, we have mentioned the importance of nanotechnology in the delivery of phytochemicals and also
added a note on the significance of delivery with current chemotherapeutics, including
present challenges and future perspectives.
Keywords: Cancer, Chemotherapy, Cell cycle, Co-delivery, Checkpoints, Carbon nanoparticles, Drug delivery, Exosomes, Lipid nanoparticles, Nanoparticles, Phyto- chemicals, Phytomedicine, Polymeric nanoparticles
