Table 3.

Advantages and disadvantages of vectors

Type of vector	Advantages	Disadvantages
Viral vectors	High transfection efficiency	Biosafety risk, immune response, complex preparation, and small loading volume
Lipid nanoparticle	Simple preparation and good biocompatibility	Positively charged LNP may directly damage cell membranes and cause cytotoxicity
Gold nanoparticles	Easy control of shape and size, good biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and capability of photothermal effect	/
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles	Good biocompatibility, modifiability, low cytotoxicity, degradability, Magnetic targeting, magneto-thermal effect, and magnetic resonance capability	/
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles	Good modifiability, biocompatibility, thermal stability, biodegradability	/
Polyethylenimine	High lysosomal escape ability and high transfection efficiency	Difficult to degrade and cytotoxic
Chitosan	Good biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity	Transfection efficiency is relatively low
Dendritic macromolecules	High transfection efficiency, good water solubility, and modifiability	Difficult to degrade and cytotoxic
Polylactic acid hydroxyacetic acid copolymer	Good biocompatibility biodegradability, and non-toxicity	A relatively low sample load, encapsulation rate, and transfection efficiency