Nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery to cancer stem cells

AbstractRecent developments in cancer biology have identified the existence of a sub-poplulation of cells – cancer stem cells (CSC) that are resistant to most traditional therapies (e.g. chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and have the ability to repair their damaged DNA. These findings have necessitated a break with traditional oncology management and encouraged new perspectives concerning cancer treatment. Understanding the functional biology of CSCs – especially the signaling pathways that are involved in their self-renewal mechanisms – is crucial for discovering new forms of treatment. In this review, we highlight current and future prospects for potential cancer therapies based on the use of nano-sized materials. Nanomaterials could revolutionize cancer management because of their distinctive features – unique surface chemistry, strong electronic, optic, and magnetic properties – that are found neither in bulk materials nor in single molecules. Based on these distinct properties, we believe that nanomater...