Recent Advances of Nanotechnology in Cancer Detection and Potential Drug Finding

Nowadays, cancer remains a major health concern, the mortality rate of cancer increasing day by day due to inaccurate diagnostic issues. To solve this problem, nanotechnology becomes a ground-breaking innovation in the field of cancer therapy. Some advanced biosensors are developed such as colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical, and Surface-Enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) system to detect biomarkers like Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), microRNAs (miRNAs), exosomes, and circulating tumour DNA. Liposomes, dendrimers, and polymeric nanomaterials like nanoparticles provide promising approaches to deliver medicines directly to the site of tumours, so that drugs become biocompatible and also reduce damage to the healthy tissues. Exosomes can efficiently diagnose biomarkers as well as act as a therapeutic carrier especially in gastrointestinal, ovarian, and HPV-related cervical cancers. These exosomes carry some biomarkers such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and proteins emphasizing their role in tumour biology, such as diagnostic accuracy, early detection potential, immune modulation, and reduction of drug resistance. Exosome-based diagnostic chips help to precisely diagnose and improve therapeutic potential. In ovarian cancer, nanocarriers like nanomicelles, nano-capsules, liposomes, branching dendrimers prove a promising approach in therapeutic purposes. Nanotechnology also achieved some successes such as using nano-biosensors for early lung cancer detection, nanoprobes in breast cancer imaging, Quantum Dots in multiplexed diagnostics, and liquid biopsy to detect prostate cancer. Despite these advantages, some challenges also remain regarding scalability and biological compatibility. However, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems improve cancer immunotherapy by minimizing systemic toxicity, targeting accuracy, and boosting immune activation. However, various research is essential to apply nanotechnology in medical purpose.