Nanomedicine: towards development of patient-friendly drug-delivery systems for oncological applications

Ramya Ranganathan^1,*, Shruthilaya Madanmohan^1,*, Akila Kesavan¹, Ganga Baskar¹, Yoganathan Ramia Krishnamoorthy², Roy Santosham³, D Ponraju⁴, Suresh Kumar Rayala², Ganesh Venkatraman<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, ²Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, ³Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, ⁴Safety Engineering Division, Nuclear and Engineering Safety Group, Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

*Authors contributed equally to this work

Abstract: The focus on nanotechnology in cancer treatment and diagnosis has intensified due to the serious side effects caused by anticancer agents as a result of their cytotoxic actions on normal cells. This nonspecific action of chemotherapy has awakened a need for formulations capable of definitive targeting with enhanced tumor-killing. Nanooncology, the application of nanobiotechnology to the management of cancer, is currently the most important area of nanomedicine. Currently several nanomaterial-based drug-delivery systems are in vogue and several others are in various stages of development. Tumor-targeted drug-delivery systems are envisioned as magic bullets for cancer therapy and several groups are working globally for development of robust systems.

Keywords: patient-friendly, drug-delivery systems, cancer, nanomedicine