Nanoparticles in cancer chemotherapy

Nanotechnology has evolved as an exciting platform in the field of anticancer research with promises to improve the pharmacology of current cancer therapeutics. Nanoparticles confer several advantages over that of free drugs, including their capability to carry high payloads of drugs, with prolonged half-life and reduced toxicity of the drugs, and increased targeting efficiency. The wide variety of nanovectors, coupled with the different methods available to conjugate or encapsulate therapeutic and/or imaging agents within, provide us with opportunities to fine-tune the pharmacological properties of these agents and open up new vistas in anticancer research. Here, we will discuss the physicochemical properties of different nanoparticles, their impact on tumor targeting, and their current status in the clinics with respect to cancer chemotherapy.