Nanotechnology in the Formulation and Delivery of Natural Products for Cancer Publisher



Dayani L¹ ; Biganeh H^{2, 3} ; Rahimi R^{3, 4} Show Affiliations
Source: Handbook of Oncobiology: From Basic to Clinical Sciences Published:2024

Abstract

Cancer represents one of the most known life-threatening health disorders, which has inflicted a heavy burden on individual lives owing to high incidence, disability, and fatality. Notwithstanding advances in conventional chemotherapeutic methods, limitations like treatment-associated adverse effects and drug resistance accentuate the consequential importance of propounding new therapeutic scenarios. In this regard, medicinal plants and their bioactive ingredients have been used comprehensively to treat human disorders long ago and, nowadays, have grabbed special attention for their potential in cancer treatment by targeting different mechanisms that play a crucial role in its occurrence and regression. However, these agents are majorly hydrophobic in nature, and their application as therapeutic dosage forms faces some bottlenecks, namely, weak water solubility, low oral bioavailability, and high doses needed. Hereupon, novel strategies, particularly nano-based formulation and drug delivery methods, are exploited to surpass the abovementioned drawbacks of these health valuable natural products via mitigated side effects and increased effectiveness, stability, and pharmacokinetic issues. In the present study, we aim to highlight the potential of nanotechnology in the formulation and delivery of natural products, their advantages, and challenges for cancer management. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024. All rights reserved.