Abstract
Anticancer agents are known for their cytotoxic action against tumors, but
the spread of their activity to noncancerous tissue is highly undesirable and may be
toxic. The conventional methods of drug delivery pose numerous restrictions, involving
side effects, lack of patient compliance, etc. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery
alternatives offer the potential for the management of cancer, as they not only confer
better delivery but also efficient targeting to the tissues with limited toxicity.
Nanoparticles offer localization in tumors in the vicinity of capillaries, that accounts for
improved penetration and prolonged detainment of drug in tumors. Under the
tremendous potential of nanoparticles. The exploitation of multi-functional nanocarrier
approaches is a burgeoning research subject, driven by increasing medical needs in the
area of cancer therapy. Several nano-formulation have been approved for the treatment
of cancer. This chapter is an attempt to provide an overview of the recent developments
in nanoparticle formulations for cancer treatment and presents a comprehensive
outlook of the clinical studies and utilization in different prevalent cancers affecting the
brain, lung, breast, colon, cervix, and prostate, etc.