Navigating the Potential of Natural Products through Nano-enabled Drug Deliveries in Mitigation of Cancer: A Review

Abstract

Approximately 20 million new instances of cancer and 10 million cancer-related deaths were reported in 2023, making cancer one of the leading causes of mortality globally. The number of deaths due to cancer worldwide is expected to double by 2050 to an estimated 18.5 million, compared to 9.7 million in 2022. Though there are heaps of new advanced techniques and therapies present for the treatment or control of cancer exist; however, complete treatment is not yet available. Chemotherapy and radiation-based therapy are examples of cancer treatments that function by eradicating or damaging cancer cells, which may sometimes negatively affect as well as harm normal cells throughout the process. Phyto-pharmaceuticals have shown promising results in the management of cancer due to potential anticancer efficacy. There is a large variety of medicinal herbs that exhibit anticancer properties; however, few are known and not yet evaluated in humans. Recently these bioactive compounds were combined with modified medications driven by nanotechnology (NT), and drug delivery systems are being fabricated and commercialized to improve the management of cancer with positive results. Drug delivery to cancer cells can be made more effective using nano-carriers with prolong medication half-lives, improve solubility and stability, and lessen side effects in organs other than the target. The review focuses on a new nano-enabled approach to delivering the medication that leverages bioactive compounds in either entrapped or tagged to carriers. Additionally, the review provides a sense of the obstacles and constraints associated with conventional cancer therapy, as well as the bioavailability of bioactive compounds.