Applications of Nanomaterials in Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

The early detection of cancer is extremely important in the fight against cancer. However, the detection of various cancers in their early stages has been impeded by the inherent capacity of conventional diagnostic methods. Nanotechnology has provided new materials and contrast agents for an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of cancers as well as the prognosis of cancers during cancer treatment. Therefore, it is believed that nanotechnology could provide a highly sensitive, specific, and multiplexed capacity to measure extracellular cancer biomarkers and can be able to detect cancer cells. In this chapter, the recent developments in the application of nanotechnology for the diagnosis of cancers have been summarized. Further, the key issues which hinder the clinical application of nanotechnology-based diagnostic approaches have been discussed.