Nanomedicine: Potential Killing of Cancercells Using Nanoparticles

Abstract

This chapter describes apoptosis as an active process of cellular deconstruction and compares it morphologically with necrosis. In contrast to necrosis, apoptosis involves the regulated action of catabolic enzymes (proteases and nucleases) within the limits of near-to-intact plasma membranes. It also involves the activation of specific caspases that cleave at specific sites after aspartic acid residues. In this context cell death by necrosis and cell death by apoptosis signaling are also discussed in this chapter. One strategy to achieve efficient drug delivery it is to understand the interactions of nanomaterials with the biological environment, targeting cell-surface receptors, drug release, multiple drug administration, stability of therapeutic agents and molecular mechanisms of cell signaling involved in the pathology of several diseases. These aspects are discussed in this chapter mainly in terms of polymeric and silver nanoparticles, in both cases with reference to in vitro and in vivo experiments. The perspectives with regard to the encapsulation of anticancer drugs in nanosystems are also discussed. All of the information available to date indicates that nanomedicine will play a crucial role in cancer treatment.