Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. Current cancer therapies like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy can be highly efficient but have low selectivity, therapeutic index, and cause side effects. Nanotechnology and nanomedicine, which involve manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular scale, show promise for more targeted cancer therapy by allowing drugs to be encapsulated in nanoparticles and delivered specifically to tumor sites, potentially reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes. In particular, gold nanoparticles show potential for photothermal therapy, radiotherapy, and inhibiting angiogenesis in cancer treatment due to their tunable properties and ability to accumulate in tumors.

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 NanoshellsQuantum 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