Metallic nanoparticles-based drug delivery for pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Advances in bionanotechnology have led scientists to study organic and inorganic materials that are biocompatible, nontoxic and highly efficient for the treatment of various diseases. Metallic nanoparticles are one of those exceptionally versatile bio-nanotechnological materials, as they can be obtained in different sizes and compositions, which determine their physicochemical properties. These “smart” nanoagents can be used as stimulus-sensitive drug delivery systems for various biomedical applications and therapies. The responsiveness of nanoparticles to various stimuli can be tailored due to their excellent surface modification capabilities, allowing different biocompatible and biodegradable materials to facilitate easy and targeted delivery of nanoparticles to the target site in response to an intrinsic or extrinsic stimulus. This chapter deals with the synthesis and biofunctionalization of several customized metal nanoparticles for use in pancreatic cancer therapeutics.