The role of nanotechnology in cancer treatment and diagnosis

Cancer treatment is one of the major challenges of modern medicine. Several attempts have been made, in order to find more successful treatments. Nanotechnology can be applied to target drugs to the surface or to the interior of specific cells. In addition, it can also be used in diagnosis and progn...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Teixeira, Vanessa Micaela dos Santos (author)
Other Authors: Silva, Ana Catarina (author), Lopes, Carla Martins (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10284/2974
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:bdigital.ufp.pt:10284/2974
Description
Summary:Cancer treatment is one of the major challenges of modern medicine. Several attempts have been made, in order to find more successful treatments. Nanotechnology can be applied to target drugs to the surface or to the interior of specific cells. In addition, it can also be used in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. Therefore, nanotechnology opened a new vast exploiting area for cancer treatment. The studies must go on to obtain tailor-made therapies, with low adverse side effects and improved efficacy. O tratamento do cancro é um dos grandes desafios da medicina moderna. Várias tentativas têm sido feitas nesta área, com o objectivo de obter tratamentos mais eficientes. A nanotecnologia pode ser usada para direccionar fármacos para a superfície ou para o interior de células específicas. Estes sistemas podem ser usados no diagnóstico e prognóstico de doenças. A nanotecnologia surge assim como uma nova área de conhecimento do tratamento e diagnóstico do cancro. Os estudos devem prosseguir tendo em vista a obtenção de terapias individuais, com poucos efeitos adversos.