Treatment of cancer using nanoparticle-based approaches being explored
extensively to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional treatment.
Progress in nanotechnology for cancer therapy has led to the development of smart
nanoformulations which improve the intracellular delivery of drugs due to their
augmented multi-functionality and targeting potential. Smart nanoformulations are
nano range particles which release the drug in accordance with the biological stimuli
pre-existing at the disease site. This chapter summarizes most of the recent patents
related to smart nanopreparations for cancer therapy. Such a smart system has shown to
enhance the therapeutic effect of current standard treatment modalities such as
chemotherapies and radiotherapies. Several polymeric nanoparticles were patented that
destroy tumors by thermal energy deposition and thus enhanced tumor therapy.
Patented thermoresponsive solid lipid nanoformulations which act as smart drug
delivery systems showed temperature sensitivity (39°C-45°C) and release payload at
target sites of cancerous cells. The pH-sensitive polymeric drug delivery system
containing adornment acidic or basic groups to accept or donate protons in response to
environmental pH showed accelerated drug release at the tumor site. A novel liposome
linked thermosensitive peptide was invented which showed temperature dependent
peptide shrinkage and drug release. Likewise, due to unique properties of metallic
nanoparticles in imaging and diagnostic field, they are gaining interest widely as
stimuli-sensitive drug delivery system. Gold nanoparticles can absorb light strongly
and convert photon energy into heat quickly and efficiently escalating the temperature
of a tumor cell (41°C-47°C) and thus destroying cancerous cells specifically. Coupling
metallic nanoparticle properties with pH-sensitive targeting, resulted in an enhanced
anti-tumor effect as observed in recently granted patents.
Keywords: Cancer, carbon nanotubes, controlled release, dendrimers, gold
nanoparticles, hydrogels, ligand, liposomes, magnetic nanoparticles, metallic
nanoparticles, micelles, nanoformulation, nanotechnology, pH-sensitive targeting,
polymeric nanoparticles, smart nanoformulation, solid lipid nanoparticles, stimuli-sensitive, thermosensitive nanoparticles, virus-based nanoparticles.