The role of nanotechnology for diagnostic and therapy strategies in lung cancer

Lung cancer is globally the second most common cancer accounting for millions of deaths each year in both men and women. Early diagnosis is still difficult due to the cancer growing silently in the lung resulting in late diagnosis and high mortality. In recent years, nanotechnology has been advancing the diagnosis and cancer therapy modalities. A number of nanotherapies based around nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to treat ailments such as pain, infectious diseases, and cancer. Nano-based medicine is providing a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantage over current chemotherapy such as bioavailability, intestinal absorption, solubility, and targeted delivery. The progress that has led to the development of emerging cancer therapies in the clinic for the treatment of lung cancer is reaching fruition. Herein, this chapter outlines the current developments in nanomedicine for lung cancer diagnosis and therapy using NPs including liposomes, polymeric NPs, quantum dots, gold NPs, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and magnetic NPs.