Researchers are studying nano-sized particles to deliver anticancer drugs and hope to improve current cancer treatment. Current treatment injects the drug directly into the bloodstream and allows it to simply flow in the blood and kill all fast-reproducing cells (see more), including cancer cells and also various healthy cells. Killing healthy cells produces the harmful side effects associated with the chemotherapy.

Micelles, one type of nanoparticle, in drug delivery act as small-drug containers. The anticancer drug can be loaded into the nanoparticles which will effectively shield the drug from the body and release the drug only once the cancer cells are found. Other attempts are being made to connect a ligand or other molecules to the nanoparticles which will specifically search out cancer cells. Micelles promise to be a more effective drug delivery technique and will eliminate many of the damaging side effects. In the future, engineers will specifically design and construct nanoparticles for all different applications.

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