Smart nanocarriers for cancer treatment: Clinical impact and safety

Cancer, as a global health issue, its treatment with conventional approaches is challenged by non-specific biodistribution and targeting, poor solubility, low therapeutic indices and majorly the development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) that enables the cancer cells to survive against antineoplastic agents. A better understanding in tumor biology as well as a huge progression in nanotechnology in recent years have led to the interest in developing nanoscale carriers capable of delivering drugs appropriately to specific tumor sites. With the advanced surface modification techniques, nanoparticles decorated with different surfactants/polymer coatings/ ligands have shown their abilities much more superior to conventional cancer treatments. Specifically, they are featured with properties such as specific targeting, water soluble, stable, biocompatible and biodegradable, while certain type has demonstrated the ability to reverse MDR effect. This review consolidates the limitations of current nanocarriers as well as the development of several smart nanocarriers, namely liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes and polymeric micelles. We also discuss the future research prospects and potential improvements in these smart nanocarriers.