Chapter 21 - Cancer nanomedicine

Abstract

Nanomedicine is now attracting researchers in the 21st century to make use of the unique characteristics of atomic and molecular assemblies constructed at nanoscale. The possibility of applying nanomaterials to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases makes nanomedicine one of the most attractive areas of nanotechnology. Consequently, nanomedicine is rapidly developed with the attempts to use nanomaterials as therapeutic nanocarriers. Nanomedicine involves the preparation and delivery of therapeutic drugs in the molecular and nanometer size range to the targeted site of action, especially cancer in the human body without affecting healthy organs and tissues. The importance of the targeted delivery of nanomedicine lies in the fact that almost 95% of the actual discovered drugs present poor pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. The aim of nanomedicine is to improve drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, nonspecific toxicity, immunogenicity, and the biorecognition of systems in order to attain maximum efficacy and minimum undesirable side effects. To achieve this, drug formulation, the route of administration, and specific targeting are major parameters to be considered. The current studies of three major nanomaterials applied in drug delivery against cancers including liposome-, inorganic-, and bio-based nanocarriers are summarized in this chapter, including nanocarrier platform, conceptual design, and their development.