GALLIUM NANOPARTICLES AS DELIVERY SYSTEM AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND CANCER

Abstract

As viruses, microbes, other pathogenic microorganisms and toxic agents are responsible for global broad spectrum diseases including cancer and malignant hypercalcemia, resulting significant mortality and morbidity, nanobiotechnology-based nanoparticles are being emerged as new nanomedicines for their biological applications owing to their unique shape, size and ease surface functionalizations. To overcome drug resistance and toxicity, gallium (Ga(III)) metal nanoparticles (GaNPs) have attracted attention for their requirements for prolonged treatments, especially, against human immunodeficiency virus, mycobacterium, hypercalcemia and cancer. These nanoparticles remain stable for the longer periods owing to the formation of native and passivating 2-3 nm oxide layer. Therefore, it is needed to encapsulate the NPs with bioactive compounds within vesicular system associated ligand-binding for specific delivery to target-sites for getting better efficacies. This review depicts especially the role of GaNPs as delivery system against infectious diseases and cancer.