ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The most reliable factor in predicting cancer survival is the size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. Hence, early diagnosis of cancer plays an important role in deciding the prognosis. The diagnostic methods available in the present scenario can detect tumors only when they contain a minimum of one billion cells. However, with the advances in the eld of nanotechnology, it is possible to detect tumors 1000 times smaller than the usual detectable size as well as earlier than the current diagnostic methods available. Moreover, as nanoparticles can be designed to cross the biological barriers, they can also be used to detect tumors not accessible to conventional diagnostic methods. Inexpensive radio isotopes with short half-life can be combined with nanocarriers to target the specic tumor cells and to have a prolonged half-life.
