Nanotransporters for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Nanomedicine is a relatively new field of medicine aiming to overcome usual problems that appear in disease treatment. Natural or artificial nanodevices, with dimensions similar to those of biological molecules in human body, can carry drugs more efficiently and mostly with no side effects on healthy tissue than drugs alone. Nowadays, there is a huge interest in nanotechnology for detection, imaging and cancer treatment because cancer causes death of millions people every year. There are already some nanoparticle based drugs, mostly in liposomes, approved for clinical use or under clinical investigation. Many attempts are made to improve nanoparticles sizes, shapes and surface modifications that lead to prolongation of drug circulation in blood stream and targeting to cancer cells. Thus small molecules like polyethylene glycol and targeting ligands like folic acid, peptides, antibodies, aptamers and nucleic acids are bound on the surface of nanoparticles with the aim to increase specific cell uptake. Very promising are multifunctional nanoparticles that combine both diagnostic as well as delivery role together. In this chapter, we describe recent progress on utilization of different nanotransporters including dendrimers, micelles, liposomes, protein-based carriers, * Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]. The license for this PDF is unlimited except that no part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted commercially in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services. Pavel Kopel, Dorota Wawrzak, Vedran Milosavljevic et al. 2 graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, silica, gold and iron oxides nanoparticles, for transport of anticancer drugs.