Nanoparticles with Antitumoral Activity: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Nanotechnology is used to describe materials, devices and systems with structures and components, exhibiting new and/ or significantly improving physical, chemical and biological properties. In the biomedical area, these materials have unique nanoscale properties of 1 nanometers to 100 nanometers. Thus, the objective was to evidence the available scientific knowledge in the literature on some advances related to the use of nanoparticles with antitumor activity. The present study uses as an integrative literature review method, allowing to search, evaluate and synthesize the available evidence to contribute to the development of the discussion about the theme. Crossing the descriptors "nanoparticles" and "antitumoral", 62 studies were found, of which one was repeated in more than one place. Thus, of the 61 publications listed, 26 addressed the main theme proposed with emphasis on the use of nanoparticles/nanoemulsion against tumor cells, in this way were selected to compose this study. Nanotechnology can be considered a new technology in the oncology area. The major challenges are to gather information about the properties and risks of these nanomaterials, the in vivo application as well as specific clinical trials.