Nanotechnology in cancer prevention, detection and treatment: bright future lies ahead

This paper is an overview of advances and prospects in applications of nanotechnology for cancer prevention, detection and treatment. We begin with a brief description of the underlying causes of cancer. Then we address preventive treatment, disease-time treatment, and diagnosis in the context of some of the most recent advances in nanotechnology. Nanoparticle science is also briefly addressed as the foundation upon which most nanotechnology cancer therapy is based. It is demonstrated how nanotechnology can help solve one of the most challenging and longstanding problems in medicine, which is how to eliminate cancer without harming normal body tissue.