Theranostic nanocarriers for cancer applications

Abstract

Cancer is one of the deadly diseases with serious health concerns that needed novel therapeutic solutions. For an effective and successful treatment approach, upgraded and advanced diagnostics as well as therapeutic techniques are required. Currently, research and development in this area are in great demand in nanoscience and nanotechnology. They promise to offer innovative and more effective approaches to cancer for its early diagnosis, imaging, and therapy. An emerging and growing trend in this direction is theranostics. It deals with both the diagnosis and therapeutic approach to cancers conjointly. Its prime objectives are to eliminate multi-step processes and reduce delays in cancer treatment. It offers many advantages, such as better-quality diagnosis, cancer-specific drug delivery, and minimization of toxic effects to healthy tissues. Many theranostic nanocarriers like nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoshells, liposomes, dendrimers, and micelles can be used efficiently for the effective treatment of cancer. This chapter examines several theranostic nanocarriers and their applications for effective cancer treatment.