Role of Nanotechnology in Overcoming the Challenges Faced in Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Background: Oral cancer (OC) is among the most prevalent and aggressive cancers globally, marked by high morbidity, mortality, and frequent posttreatment relapse.Conventional diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are limited by invasiveness, suboptimal sensitivity, systemic toxicity, and poor treatment outcomes.The present review was conducted to review the recent advances in nanotechnology for OC diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the types of nanoparticles (NPs) used, their mechanisms, current limitations, and prospects.Materials and methods: A narrative review was conducted using recent literature from peer-reviewed journals, focusing on biomedical nanotechnology applications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Emphasis was placed on types of NPs (e.g., liposomes, gold NPs, polymeric NPs), their diagnostic and therapeutic roles, and translational challenges.Results: Nanoparticles offer several advantages over conventional methods, including enhanced imaging precision, targeted drug delivery, reduced systemic toxicity, and improved therapeutic efficacy.Platforms such as liposomal doxorubicin, gold nanostructures for photothermal therapy, and ligand-targeted polymeric NPs show promise for early diagnosis and treatment.Several nanoparticle-based products are in clinical or commercial stages, although most remain under investigation for OC.Conclusion: Nanotechnology provides a transformative approach to OC management.By overcoming the limitations of conventional methods, nanoparticle-based strategies may significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic outcomes, and patient quality of life.Future research should focus on clinical translation, biocompatibility, and large-scale validation.Clinical significance: Incorporating nanotechnology into OC protocols could allow for earlier, noninvasive detection and more precise, less toxic treatment.This is particularly valuable in resource-constrained settings or among high-risk populations where traditional modalities fall short.Clinicians and researchers should be aware of emerging nanomedicine platforms that may soon complement or replace conventional approaches.