Nanoparticles as Carriers for Drug Delivery in Cancer.

Cancer nanoparticles are swiftly progressing and are being applied to solve several limitation of conventional drug delivery system such as non-specific biodistribution and targeting, lack of water solubility and poor oral bioavailability. Advances in protein engineering and materials science have contributed to novel nanoscale targeting approaches that may bring new hope to cancer patients. Several therapeutic nanocarries have been approved for clinical use. Nanoparticles have been designed for optimal size and surface characteristic to improve their biodistribution and to increase their circulation time in the bloodstream. By selectively using the unique pathophysiology of tumours, such as their enhanced permeability and retention effect nanotherapeutics arew able to carry loaded active drug to cancer cells. In addition to this passive targeting mechanism, active targeting stratigies using ligards or antibodies directed against selected tumour targets magnify the specific of these therapeutic nanoparticles. Multifunctional nanoparticles are now being actively investigated and are on the horizon as the nexty generation of nanoparticles and tailored cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]