Table 13.
Survey of dominant nanostructures, their applications and the biological areas of concern.
| Nanostructures | Applications | Concerns | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal nanoparticles | Contrast agents; drug delivery | Element specific toxicity; reactive oxygen species | [249,252] |
| Nanoshells | Hyperthermia therapy | None demonstrated | [252,253] |
| Fullerenes | Vaccine adjuncts; hyperthermia therapy | Antibody generation | [252,254] |
| Quantum dots | Fluorescent contrast agent | Metabolism | [255,256] |
| Polymer nanoparticles | Drug delivery; therapeutics | Unknown | [257] |
| Dendrimer | Guest supply of drug | Metabolic path | [252,258] |
| Liposomes | Drug supply; contrast agent vehicle | Hypersensitivity reactions | [252,257] |