Nanomaterials for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers: A Review

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a category of cancers that typically arise from the nose-, mouth-, and throat-lining squamous cells. The later stage of HNC diagnosis significantly affects the patient’s survival rate. This makes it mandatory to diagnose this cancer with a suitable biomarker and imaging techniques at the earlier stages of growth. There are limitations to traditional technologies for early detection of HNC. Furthermore, the use of nanocarriers for delivering chemo-, radio-, and phototherapeutic drugs represents a promising approach for improving the outcome of HNC treatments. Several studies with nanostructures focus on the development of a targeted and sustained release of anticancer molecules with reduced side effects. Besides, nanovehicles could allow co-delivering of anticancer drugs for synergistic activity to counteract chemo- or radioresistance. Additionally, a new generation of smart nanomaterials with stimuli-responsive properties have been developed to distinguish between unique tumor conditions and healthy tissue. In this light, the present article reviews the mechanisms used by different nanostructures (metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, quantum dots, liposomes, nanomicelles, etc.) to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, provides an up-to-date picture of the state of the art in this field, and highlights the major challenges for future improvements.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Used in Oncology

“…Notable steps were made in the synthesis of efficient magnetite/mesoporous media as drug delivery treatments, and in the near future, complex platform could be developed for cancer treatments [60,61,239]. Few nanomaterials have shown success in clinical cases, because supplementary research must be carried out in order to understand nanomaterial-human cell interactions and biological barriers in different types of cancers [240,241]. There are also industrial barriers because good laboratory practice has to be developed.…”

Gold Nanorods for Doxorubicin Delivery: Numerical Analysis of Electric Field Enhancement, Optical Properties and Drug Loading/Releasing Efficiency

“…The well-defined boundary conditions were imposed to study the optical behavior of the gold nanostructures. For gold nanorods, the aspect ratio varied from 2.5–4.5, as reported in the published literature [ 38 , 39 ]. In the sensing performance of gold nanorods, the aspect ratio is crucial.…”

“…In this study, the numerical analysis of electric field enhancement and optical properties of gold nanorods was conducted for biological applications. For experimental study, nanorods were produced through the seed-mediated growth method [ 38 , 39 ]. Later, doxorubicin was used for targeted drug delivery via AuNRs.…”

Investigation on Green Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Prepared Using Cistus incanus

“…The synthesis of nanoscale materials is an emerging area of science and technology and has focused researchers’ attention, owing to nanomaterials’ immense potential applications in various fields of life. Nanosized materials may contribute solutions to technological and environmental demands in the fields of energy [ 1 ], water treatment [ 2 ] catalysis [ 3 ], and biomedical sciences [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. One of the most demanding aspects of nanotechnology is the preparation of monodisperse materials of controllable size, shape, and chemical composition.…”