Nanoscale drug delivery applications in cancer therapeutics, termed as nanoncology, are being utilized to resolve recurring problems in conventional drug delivery. Nanoparticles have properties unlike their bulk counterparts and the ongoing development of these characteristics continues to increase the repertoire of bio-functionality in regards to interactions of oncotic cellular and molecular systems. Nanoparticles can be constructed in a manner that is tunable and targeted, which gives standard chemotherapy a new approach in terms of drug administration and lowering off-target toxicities. This work concisely discusses pivotal factors in nanoparticle characteristics for cancer therapy providing an up-to-date therapeutics platforms review. Copyright © 2010 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.