Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite advancements in

conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These traditional approaches often suffer from

limitations including systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and poor specificity. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising

frontier in oncology, offering innovative strategies to enhance drug delivery, improve targeting accuracy, and integrate

diagnostics with therapeutics [1]. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current nanocarriers—ranging from lipid-

based and polymeric nanoparticles to inorganic and carbon-based nanomaterials—and highlights their applications in various

therapeutic modalities, including chemotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, gene delivery, and immunotherapy

[2]. It further discusses targeting strategies such as passive, active, and stimuli-responsive delivery systems, which improve

tumor localization and therapeutic outcomes. Despite significant preclinical success, nanomedicine still faces several

translational challenges, including nanotoxicity, tumor heterogeneity, biodistribution variability, and regulatory complexities.

Emerging innovations such as personalized nanomedicine, AI-guided design, organoid models, and theranostic platforms are

poised to overcome these hurdles and reshape the future of cancer treatment. This review underscores the transformative

potential of nanotechnology in oncology while addressing the critical barriers to its clinical translation and widespread adoption.