nanotechnology in cancer therapy

1. Nanotechnology in Cancer
Therapy
Antonio Di Martino

2. What is it Cancer?
 Is one of the leading cause of death worldwide
 Is represented by an uncontrolled cells growth
 Involve many physiological pathways
Which are current cancer therapies?
 Surgery
 Radiotherapy
 Chemotherapy
High efficiency
Low selectivity
Low therapeutic Index

3. Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy
 Nanotechnology = manipulation of matter on atomic, molecular and supramolecular
scale
Nanomedicine = application of nanotechnology in therapeutic and diagnostic
Drug Delivery System

4. Nanoparticles
Nanoliposomes Polymerics Nanoshells
Quantum Dots
Metallic nanoparticles
 More flexible
 Size
 Shape
 Structure
 Composition
 Encapsulation

5. Golden Nanoparticles (AuNPs)
Great chance in cancer therapy
Tunable properties
Easy to prepare
Surface modification
High encapsulation efficiency
Application of Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery

6. AuNPs in Cancer Therapy : Applications
 Photothermal therapy
 Radiotherapy
 Angiogenesis Inhibition
Optical properties
Absorption in NUV and NIR
High accumulation Index
Chemical modification of protein involved

7. Conclusions
 Cancer is a complex disease
 Different molecular pathway are involved
 Nanomedicine represents a new concept of therapy
 Reduction of side effects
 High specificity
 Improve the quality of life
 Still lack of knowledge about toxicity over time