Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy

As cancerous cells grow and multiply, they form a mass of cancerous tissue. Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite efforts to mitigate risk factors in recent decades, the prevalence of cancer is continuing to increase. Nanotechnology has been extensively studied and exploited for cancer treatment as NPs play a significant role as a drug delivery system. Compared to conventional drugs, NP-based drug delivery has specific advantages, such as improved stability and biocompatibility, enhanced permeability and retention effect, and precise targeting. The application and development of hybrid NPs, which incorporate the combined properties of different NPs, have led this type of drug-carrier system to the next level. This chapter discusses the use of therapeutic systems using external stimuli and self-therapeutic nanomaterials (NMs) along with their mechanisms and possible toxicological implications and health hazards associated with their use to target and eradicate cancer cells. However, there is an urgent need for researchers to develop NMs and successfully transition them from the bench to the clinics.