A review of applications of principles of quantum physics in oncology: do quantum physics principles have any role in oncology research and applications?

Abstract

Background:Research in the applications of the principles of quantum physics in oncology has progressed significantly over the past decades; and several research groups with professionals from diverse scientific background, including electrical engineers, mathematicians, biologists, atomic physicists, computer programmers, and biochemists, are working collaboratively in an unprecedented and pioneering economic, organisational and human effort searching for a wider and more effective, potentially definitive, understanding of the cancers. It is hypothesised that the principles of quantum physics could open new and broader understanding of the cancers and the development of new effective, targeted, accurate, personalised and possibly definitive cancer treatment.Materials and methods:This paper reports on a review of recent studies in the field of the applications of the principles of quantum physics in biology, chemistry, biochemistry and quantum physics in cancer research, including quantum physics principles and cancer, quantum modelling techniques, quantum dots and its applications in oncology, quantum cascade laser histopathology and quantum computing applications.Conclusions:The applications of the principles of quantum physics in oncology, chemistry and biology are providing new perspectives and greater insights into a long-studied disease, which could result in a greater understanding of the cancers and the potential for personalised and definitive treatment methods.

Quantum Biology: Does quantum physics hold the key to revolutionizing medicine?

“…Recently it has been concluded that fields such as oncology, biology and chemistry could greatly benefit from application of principles of quantum physics in order to provide new perspectives and greater insights into cancer. This has the potential to lead to deeper understanding of cancers and the potential for more effective and personalized treatments [86] . Applying concepts of quantum mechanics to trying to understand why cells might develop oncogenic mutations, as cells may become cancerous as a way to increase their entropy as proposed by Laster et al who proposed this based on combining the uncertainties of genetic changes as expressed by epigenetic changes and/or somatic mutations with the uncertainties of environmental changes [87] .…”

“…The potential applications of the principles of quantum physics in oncology have been demonstrated in several areas. Significant advancements in oncology research have been achieved through modelling of concepts such as quantum metabolism, quantum biology, quantum chemistry, quantum biochemistry, and quantum entropy, which have been used to provide new insights into the origin of cancer cells and their rapid, uncontrolled rates of cell division [86] . Quantum theory has been shown to be relevant for developing models with the potential to explain cancer related biological and biochemical processes cancer including the effects of carcinogens on DNA, the mechanism of interactions of chemotherapy drugs with genetic material [89] ; as well as the understanding of DNA mutations and defective protein synthesis [90] .…”

The Current Landscape of Novel Formulations and the Role of Mathematical Modeling in Their Development

“…Although at present the existing computing power and the complexity surrounding the simulations of QM is a major drawback, the development of quantum computers can drastically reduce the computational time and improve the use of QM. 144 Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science with multiple applications in various fields of study that acquire novel information, define decision making, and design novel methods. 145 AI is being rapidly introduced in health care as it has numerous advantages in the field of drug development.…”

A review of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles technology for cancer therapy: a vehicle for chemotherapeutic drug delivery

“…1 The traditional therapeutic modalities for cancers are mainly surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy; and more recently immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy have become commonplace for some cancer treatments. In the past few years, there have been growing investigations towards personalised and targeted treatment options for cancer patients including gene therapy, 2 use of quantum physics principles to understand and treat cancer, 3 use of functionalised gold nanoparticles for cancer therapy, 4 the use of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles for drug delivery and combining imaging genomics and radiation genomics. 68 The ultrasoundmediated microbubble technique used as a non-invasive delivery of therapeutic agents for cancer treatment has recently evolved as one of the advanced therapeutic methods for personalised and targeted cancer treatment.…”