This authoritative volume focuses on emerging technologies in cancer
nano medicine, characterized by their multi-functionality and potential
to address simultaneously diverse issues of clinical relevance in the
treatment of cancer. The book consists of sixteen chapters divided into
six sections: 1) Biological Barriers in Cancer; 2) Tumor Targeting; 3)
Targeting the Immune System; 4) Gene Therapy; 5) Nano theranostics and
6) Translational Aspects of Nano-Oncologicals. The volume starts with an
introduction describing the biological barriers associated with cancer
therapy and highlighting ways to overcome such barriers through the use
of nanotechnology. This is followed by an analysis of the two major
targeting strategies currently under investigation in cancer therapy:
namely, the targeting of cancer cells and the targeting of the immune
system. In the first case, the book presents liposomal and polymer-based
therapies, including photodynamic approaches. In the second case, it
analyzes in detail the possibility of either improving the efficiency of
the immune system toward preventing cancer progression (cancer
immunomodulation) or generating responses against specific cancer
antigens (cancer vaccines).
Beyond these targeting options, Nano-Oncologicals: New Targeting and
Delivery Approaches presents the most recent technological advances in
the area of nucleic acid-based therapies, along with those in the area
of theranostics, where the design of multifunctional nano carriers
becomes vital. Following the study of the most promising
nanotechnologies around the development of nano-oncologicals, the book
ends with an overview of regulatory and toxicological issues, which are
critical in their translational pathway, and the presentation of a
nucleic acid-based therapy case-study. This book is an important
resource for scientists interested in the design and development of
anticancer nanotechnologies and also to those aiming to push their
technology through clinical development.
