PERSPECTIVES OF THE CARBON NANOPARTICLES USE IN CANCER THERAPY AND IMAGING

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death both, in Poland and worldwide. There is a growing number of patients with cancer each year. The poor prognosis of oncological treatment results, among others, from the late detection of the tumor, the lack of diagnostic techniques, the lack of specificity of standard therapies as well as toxicity of anticancer drugs to healthy cells. Recently, medical applications of different nanoparticles were raised. More attention is being paid to carbon nanomaterials for potential delivery of anticancer drugs in the human body as well as the possibility of their use in the diagnostics. The present review discusses selected carbon nanoparticles with regard to their safety in clinical use and incorporation into routine oncological treatment in the future.