Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - Anti-Cancer Agents

Volume: 9

The Revolutionary Potential of Noble Metal Nanoparticles as Anti-Cancer Agents: State-Of-The-Art Applications and Future Perspectives

Author(s):

Pp: 41-77 (37)

DOI: 10.2174/9789815223910124090004

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Cancer is perhaps one of the gravest challenges that humanity has been facing for centuries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Nanotechnology has revolutionized cancer research by providing a targeted and selective alternative to conventional treatment modalities and drug delivery protocols with lesser side effects and negligible systemic toxicity. Nanoparticles (NP), particularly noble metal nanoparticles, are one such competent alternatives that have been extensively studied and applied to various aspects of cancer therapy with exemplary results. Nanoparticles of noble metals such as silver, gold, and platinum possess unique properties like small size, non-toxicity, high surface-to-volume ratio, tunable optical properties,and ease of functionalization with antibodies, nucleic acids, nucleotides, and peptides. These nanoparticles have an inherent advantage over traditional moieties regarding intracellular delivery due to their small size. This proved very helpful in the gene silencing method involving smallinterfering RNA for the down-regulation of gene expressions in cancerous cells. In particular, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are highly selective radiosensitizers, whereas silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on cancer cells. Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) and AuNPs display exceptional thermoplasmonic properties and hence are being used effectively in cancer photo thermal therapy (PTT). PtNPs have the potential to amplify the efficacy and selectivity of the hadron therapy. This chapter will elaborate on all the above-mentioned roles of noble metal NPs in creating an effective anti-cancer therapy paradigm focusing on theranostics and drug delivery mechanisms.

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