Nanotechnology in cancer: A clinical review

Emergence of modern nanotechnology has plethora of ideas in store for the mankind. It has led to the creativity without constraints for the scientific community Nanotechnology is uniquely promising as an early detection tool for several reasons. To successfully detect cancer at its earliest stages, scientists must be able to detect molecular changes even when they occur only in a small percentage of cells. This means the necessary tools must be extremely sensitive. The potential for nanostructures to enter and analyze single cells suggests they could meet this need. Current cancer therapy primarily involves surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These methods of treatment are usually painful and kill normal cells in addition to producing adverse side effects. Carbon NanoTubes as drug delivery vehicles have shown potential in targeting specific cancer cells with a dosage lower than conventional drugs used, that is just as effective in killing the cells, however does not harm healthy cells and significantly reduces side effects Another method to detect cancer by nanotechnology in clinical research is using Nanoshells. A Nanoshell is a type of spherical nanoparticle consisting of a dielectric core which is covered by a thin metallic shell. Nanoparticle-base therapeutics have been successfully delivered into tumors by exploiting the enhanced permeability and retention effect, a property that permits nanoscale structures to be taken up passively into tumors with out the assistance of antibodies.