Chapter 3: Nanopreparations for Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics

A number of nanopreparations for cancer treatment have been recently developed. Several advantages of nanoscale-based cancer therapeutics determine a continuous interest to these preparations. Formulation of conventional anticancer drugs as nanopreparations substantially changes their properties and allows for improving their water solubility, stability, anticancer activity, pharmacokinetics and release profile. It also permits the inclusion of several active components with different functionalities in one delivery system. Modern nanopreparations are capable of delivering hydro- and lipophilic anticancer drugs, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins and almost any other class of therapeutic agents. Such multicomponent multifunctional nanopreparations possess newly enhanced capabilities that exceed the potentials of each individual component applied separately. In addition to traditional chemotherapy, nanopreparations can be designed to be used in several other treatment protocols. They also can be employed as imaging agents to detect primary tumors and metastases. In addition, nanotechnology approach for anticancer formulations allows for the targeting of chemotherapeutic drugs and other active substances (nucleic acids, peptides, etc.) specifically to cancer cells therefore enhancing their anticancer activity and limiting severe adverse side effects upon healthy organs and tissues. The present work discusses examples of a few novel approaches to the formulations of nanopreparations for cancer treatment and imaging.