RESUMO
Anticancer therapies mostly depend on the ability of the bioactives to reach their designated cellular and subcellular target sites, while minimizing accumulation and side effects at non specific sites. The development of nanotechnology based drug delivery systems that are able to modify the biodistribution, tissue uptake and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic agents is considered of great importance in biomedical research and treatment therapy. Controlled releases from nanocarriers can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect of a drug. Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Targeted nano medicines either marketed or under development, are designed for the treatment of various types of cancer. Nanocarriers are able to reduce cytotoxic effect of the active anticancer drugs by increasing cancer cell targeting in comparison to conventional formulations. The newly developed nano devices such as quantum dots, liposomes, nanotubes, nanoparticles, micelles, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and solid lipid nanoparticles are the most promising applications for various cancer treatments. This review is focused on currently available information regarding pharmaceutical nanocarriers for cancer therapy and imaging.