Engineered nanostructural materials for application in cancer biology and medicine

J Appl Toxicol. 2012 Jan;32(1):10-9. doi: 10.1002/jat.1718. Epub 2011 Aug 23.

Abstract

Nanotechnology covers a wide variety of fields of research, including chemistry, physics, biology and medicine, with extensive applications in cancer, ranging from accurate, early detection of malignant lesions to minimizing metastasis. Continued development of cancer-targeted therapy has promising advantages: maximizing the effectiveness of anticancer drugs while decreasing the harmful systemic effects; tumor destruction via heating that takes advantage of magnetic nanoparticles' size, magnetization and biocompatibility; novel drug-delivery systems; and gene therapy functions to facilitate controlled drug loading and release inside the cytoplasm. These and other nanotechnology applications can contribute essential new knowledge in the fight against cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures* / chemistry
  • Nanostructures* / therapeutic use
  • Nanotechnology* / trends
  • Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms* / therapy