Table 1. Properties of different nanocarriers, drug delivery and drug release mechanism with example of patents (partially adapted from reference 51).

Type	Size (nm)	Synthesis technique	Mode of administration	Mechanism for delivery	Drug release mechanism	Example
						Drug	disease	Patent
PNP	10-1000	Solvent evaporation Nanoprecipitation Dialysis Supercritical fluid technology Emulsification/solvent diffusion	Subcutaneous, intravenous and oral	Receptor-mediated endocytosis Transcytosis	Swelling of PNPs via diffusion Degradation of polymer through enzymatic reaction	Chitosan-coated erythropoietin (HMG-Co-A reductase inhibitors)	Brain targeting	US20070237827
						PLGA encapsulated NMDA-NR1 vaccine	Alzheimer’s disease	US20100173004
SLN	50-1000	High-pressure homogenization Ultrasonication Microemulsification Supercritical fluid technique Spray drying technique	Nasal, oral, parenteral, rectal and respiratory	Absorption	High-pressure homogenization causes dispersed molecular drug in solid solution Supersaturation of SLN-drug conjugates at high cooling	LDL-cholesterol conjugates	AD, PD, and cancer	US7682627
						LDL nanoparticles	Epilepsy, stroke, Trauma and AD	US20060222716
Micelles	80-100	Self-assembly Ring-opening polymerization	Pulmonary delivery	Receptor-mediated transport, absorption, and endocytosis	Bursting, diffusion, and cleavage	doxorubicin, vincristine sulphate loaded poly (L-histidine)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer and PLEG poly micelles	Cancer	US7659314
						Paclitaxel-loaded copolymer micelle	Lung cancer	NCT01023347
Nanoliposomes	Less than 100	High-pressure homogenization	Pulmonary delivery, intravenous,	Adsorption, fusion and diffusion/ endocytosis	Endocytosis and Adsorption to cell surface Bursting due to environmental stimuli	Glutathione encapsulated liposomes	Myoclonus	US20100166846
						Tempamine loaded liposome	Multiple sclerosis and PD	US20110027351
CNTs	Diameter of 3.5-70nm	Arc discharge method Chemical vapors deposition Laser ablation method Flame synthesis method	mainly intraperitoneal and intravenous	Endocytosis, diffusion, penetration	Electrically or chemical controlled	Streptavidin-HRP (Horseradish peroxidase) bounded SWCNT-annexin conjugates	Breast cancer	US201001846691A1
						Stem cell loaded CNT	AD, PD, and ischemia	US20090148417A1
Dendrimers	Diameter range 1.5-13.5	Divergent method- Micheal reaction Convergent method Click chemistry- Diels_alder reactions, azide-alkyne reaction, and thiol-yne reactions Hypercore & branched monomers	Oral, transdermal, topical, IV	Transcytosis and endocytosis	Degradation and environmental stimuli	Anxiolytic and antipsychotic agents	Psychotic disorder	US20100160299