ABSTRACT
The treatment of several forms of cancer has remained elusive even after persistent efforts by researchers and clinicians to combat this deadly disease. Nanoparticle systems have the ability to achieve temporal and spatial site-specific drug delivery. These unique properties of nanoparticle systems not only enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy but also significantly reduce the adverse side effects associated with the free drug, and allow for fewer doses of the drug administration to cancer patients. This chapter discusses the design and development of some such nanoparticles-based delivery systems such as polymeric micelles and nanoparticles, liposomes, and multifunctional organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticle systems that have demonstrated tremendous potentials for targeted cancer therapy. It also describes the design of “theranostic systems” that can combine multiple agents such as anticancer drugs, genes and imaging agents using a single nanoconstruct, that have immense potentials for simultaneous diagnosis, imaging and therapy of cancers.
