Obstacles in Utilizing Nanomedicine for Cancer Management

Nanomedicine and nanotherapeutics have achieved substantial advancements in technology in recent times. Nanoparticles used for targeting cancer cells, tumor microenvironment, and immune system have been extensively modified for a wide range of cancer therapies. Nanomedicine provides more advantages over traditional chemotherapeutic drugs by minimizing systemic cytotoxicity and lack of specificity through targeted treatment, preventing multidrug resistance (MDR), and enhancing the drug capacity and bioavailability. Despite these advantages, not many nanodrugs have been approved for clinical use. However, obstacles like decreased permeability, retention effects, shielding effects, and toxicity restrict the use of nanoparticles and nanomedicine for clinical use. This chapter will highlight the major obstacles faced by the technology toward clinical translation and commercialization.