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Fighting cancer with nanoparticle medicines―The nanoscale matters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

Mark E. Davis
Mark E. Davis*
Affiliation:
California Institute of Technology; mdavis@cheme.caltech.edu
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Abstract

Papyrus writings from 1600–1500 BC describe cancer and the attempts at treatment. Centuries later, cancer remains a devastating disease. Given the long history of difficulties in developing cancer therapies, why is there excitement about nanoparticle medicine (nanomedicines) for fighting cancer? This article describes the current understanding of why these engineered, nano-sized medicines, which are highly multifunctional chemical systems, have the potential to provide revolutionary ways to treat cancer. This point is illustrated by physical insights at the nanoscale that allow for the development of nanoparticles that can function in both animals and humans. The human data show how we have translated two independent nanoparticle cancer therapeutics from laboratory curiosities to experimental therapeutics in human clinical trials.

Keywords

Nanoscalebiomedicalcolloid
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 37 , Issue 9 , September 2012 , pp. 828 - 835
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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