Cancer nanotheranostics: next-generation early detection and treatment prioritization for cancers using phytonanotechnology

Cancer is basically a group of diseases involving genetic changes leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation in cancerous cells and tumour formation. The numbers of cancer cases are on the rise in Sub-Saharan African due to the increase in the adoption of westernized lifestyle, changes in diet and reduction in physical activity among the African population. Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology in medicine. Nanomedicine promised an immense potential towards early cancer diagnosis, a cancer diagnosis before the tumour develops and targeted drug delivery, which provide better patient prognosis. Phytonanotechnology is a branch of clean technologies that utilize phytoformulations to produce nanoparticles that are safe, eco-friendly and non-toxic. Traditional ways of synthesizing nanoparticles include the physical and chemical methods such as ion sputtering, solvothermal synthesis, reduction and sol–gel technique. Cancer nanotheranostics is a promising technology to combine bio-imaging and therapy of cancer through the use of nanotechnology and biotechnology tools.