ABSTRACT
Cancer nanomedicine is a rapidly progressing field dealing with the application of nanotechnology to solve the limitations of conservative cancer treatment. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid advancement in the field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology can increase the selectivity and effectiveness of cancer treatment with the least damage to normal cells. They are used to target cancer cells either by active targeting or by passive targeting through enhanced permeation retention effect. Core-shell nanoparticles are of a novel type, typically consisting of a core of one material covered by a shell of another material. Coating with an inert biocompatible material can overcome the toxicity and hydrophobicity of the core. The shell, in turn, protects the core from degrading agents and delivers the cargo safely to the region of interest. Nanoparticle chemo-therapeutics are widely studied, especially of the core-shell type. Gene 258silencing by small-interfering RNA is a promising therapy, but progress is hindered because it is incompetent to enter the cell due to increased degradation. Coating with a biocompatible, inert substance overcomes the drawbacks of small-interfering RNA delivery and surface functionaliza-tion leads to targeted delivery to tumor site. The use of lasers for cancer management has highly progressed with heat-producing nanoparticles for photothermal therapy, and photosensitizers that produce oxygen radicals for reactive oxygen species-induced damage, and core-shell nanoparticles, especially upconversion nanoparticles, have great potential due to the ability to use near infrared rays with high penetration. Core-shell nanoparticles have great potential as radiosensitizers because the targeted delivery of nanoparticles improves the efficiency of radiotherapy. Core-shell fluorescent nanoparticles with good biocompatibility are efficient for cellular imaging. This chapter highlights the advancements, problems, and prospects in cancer nanomedicine and discusses novel core-shell nanoparticles to develop innovative and effective nanotherapeutics for cancer management.
