Nanoparticles: Current Approaches and Challenges on Cancer Treatment

According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, nanoparticles (NPs) are tiny particles whose dimensions range from 1 to 100 nanometer. Therapeutic agents can be loaded into these particles by dissolving them within the polymer, trapping them inside, encapsulating them, or fastening them to the particle‟s surface. The choice of manufacturing method must match the chemical and physical traits of both the polymer and the drug, while the technique itself shapes the particle‟s internal architecture, drug release behaviour in vitro, and ultimate biological destiny. In cancer treatment, directing chemotherapeutic agents with specially designed nanoparticles addresses many shortcomings of traditional chemotherapy: passive or active targeting can raise drug or gene levels inside tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. Overall, nanotechnology is opening a new chapter in oncology by enabling precise delivery of small molecules for cancer detection, diagnosis and therapy.