Nanomaterials for Diagnosing and Treating Human Cancers: A Comprehensive Overview

The “zero”-dimensional nanomaterials with explicit and diversified bioactivities are indeed a gift to the cancer researchers. Synthesis of different nanoparticles and their conjugation with other nanomaterials have provided several unique nanomaterials including nanocomposites, nanofibers, etc., to recently developed quantum dots. In particular, drug nanomaterial conjugates have been developed and tested for better delivery and release of the drugs at the site of tumour. In addition, luminescent/fluorescent properties of nanomaterials have been implicated for non-radioactive diagnosis for different tumours. In recent times, nanoparticles have been explored as photodiagnostics and photomedicines. Photothermal effects, selective induction of oxidative stress, apoptosis, ferroptosis, etc., are major cellular events associated with the mechanistic insights of anticancer action of nanoparticles. This chapter critically examines nanomaterials, covering their varieties, characteristics, and synthesis techniques, and highlights various application strategies in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Also, it sheds light on the comparative units of pros and cons of nanomaterials and hence reviews the prospect of connecting cancer therapeutics with nanotechnology in reality.