Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of the use of Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Oral Cancer Patients

Abstract

Aims: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of the use of nanoparticles amongst health care professionals for treating oral cancer patients. Also, to understand the indications and contraindications of nanoparticles in treating oral cancer patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was executed amongst dental surgeons practising with undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. A Google questionnaire form was developed and distributed, and 102 authentic entries were short-listed. Data obtained from the study were recorded in Microsoft Excel 2007 version, and SPSS version 18.0 was used. Calculation of statistical analysis like mean and standard deviation and analysis between variations was done using student t-tests, and the association between variables was determined using Chi-square. A value was found significant when the p-value was less than 0.05. Result: Many practitioners have been using nanoparticles prepared by using nanobiotechnology for the last 2-4 years. 92.9% of participants are well conversant with nanoparticles in treating oral cancer patients, out of which 88% are willing to specify therapeutic medicaments prepared using nano-biotechnology for oral cancer patients. 94.9% of the dentists are accepting to the fact that nanomedicine can also be used in combination therapy for treating patients, and 98% stated that the use of nanotechnology for diagnosing as well as treating patients will not only be advantageous but will also be the new face of cancer management shortly. Conclusion: Lack of awareness, increased tobacco consumption, and late diagnosis are the prime concerns about increasing oral cancer cases and decreased prognosis. Nanoparticles having a small particulate size will be able to detect the changes on the surface and the cellular levels and inside the cells. Similarly, in the case of therapeutic use, nanoparticles are highly efficient in delivering drugs to the systemic circulation by reducing the drug’s immunogenicity by releasing the drug in an environmentally responsive dose, thus lowering the frequency of administration and systemic toxicity.