Table 2.

Types of nanomaterials utilized in the treatment of cancer, their advantages and limitations

Class of nanomaterial	Advantages	Limitations	Materials often utilized to construct nanomaterial
Liposomes	Amphiphilic, generally biocompatible, protect drugs from degradation	Large size, limited stability	Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine
Polymeric	Easily modified, some are biodegradable	Large scale uniform production is difficult, some exhibit cytotoxicity	PEG, PMLA, PGA, PLGA, block copolymers
Micelles	Easily modified, generally small size, biocompatible	Limited stability	Polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, phosphatidylethanolamine
Metals	Unique optical properties, easily functionalized	Not biodegradable, tend to agglomerate when exposed to physiological environment	Gold, silver, platinum, copper
Non-metals	Stable and resistant to environmental changes, some possess unique physical properties	Generally not biodegradable, some have exhibited cytotoxic effects	Silica, carbon