Table 1.

Application of Nanotechnology in Transplantation

Applications in Transplantation	Platforms	Description
Delivery of Immunosuppressants and other Drugs	Nanoparticles	Nanoparticles allow for a targeted, sustained and more controlled drug delivery dosage, reducing the side effects of indiscriminate prolonged used.
	Liposomes & Peptide Amphiphiles	The use of lipid-based delivery platforms and Peptide Amphiphiles help in the delivery of water-insoluble therapeutics, increasing drug efficacy.
Donor Specific Tolerance & Rejection	Nanochannel Membranes	Nanochannel membranes offer a constant, sustained release and can be tuned in channel size (2 – 200nm) and density to achieve a clinically relevant, constant delivery of drugs. It has shown constant in vivo delivery for periods ranging from 1 to 6 months.
	Nanobodies	Nanobodies (therapeutic fragments of antibodies) present advantages in size, stability, and low immunogenic potential and can be used to stimulate inhibitory pathways and shut off immune cells to prevent allograft rejection.
	Biocapsules & Nanoglands	The use of biocapsules and Nanogland platforms, allows the exchange of nutrients and metabolites while inhibiting the permeation of antibodies and the infiltration of immune cells. They are designed to maintain cell proximity while ensuring sufficient separation to simulate the in vivo environment.
Imaging, Diagnostics and other uses	Nanoparticles (e.g., gold, iron oxide, quantum dots)	Often used to deliver contrast agents to assist in delineating anatomy and physiology for medical imaging, the use of nanoparticles in diagnostic imaging has exhibited a six-fold contrast enhancement compared to the use of free contrast agents.