Recent Advancements in Nanotechnology for Oral Cancer: a Review

Background: Oral cancer is the life threatening disease causing mortality. The majority of chemotherapeutic anticancer agents are toxic to healthy tissues, have poor bioavailability and affect the quality of life of the patients. Objective: The main challenge in the treatment of oral cancer is the effective and safe delivery of chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs. This present review deals with the recent advancement in the nanotechnologies and its probable applications in the oral cancer treatment. Methods: This review includes a gist of suitable literature. Results: Nanotechnology brings novel methodologies or modifications in current anticancer therapies to improve individual wellbeing and survival. Conclusion: Nanotechnology put forward the potential of increasing the efficacy of the therapy and targeted drug delivery, which in turn increase drug absorption and bioavailability at the site of tumour. Different nanocarriers include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, combinational (polymeric- inorganic) nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, nanolipids, hydrogels, dendrimers and polymeric micelles. This review confers development of new drug delivery approaches for effective therapeutic outcomes and abating the toxicity to healthy tissues.