Liposomes |
Self-assembling lipid bilayer |
Encapsulated within the hydrophilic core |
Easily synthesised, biocompatible, high internal loading |
Highly sensitive to structural changes and nature of payload |
Polymeric micelles |
Hydrophobic polymer core surrounded by hydrophilic polymeric chains |
Encapsulated within the hydrophobic core |
Small, biocompatible, able to incorporate highly hydrophobic cargo |
Highly sensitive to structural changes, poor release profiles |
Polymeric nanospheres/nanocapsules |
Solid hydrophobic polymer matrix with optional aqueous core (nanocapsule) |
Embedded in the polymer matrix or within the core |
High loading capacity, flexible loading capabilities, reliable release profiles |
Difficult to purify and poor store properties |
Dendrimers |
Highly branched polymer matrix |
Embedded in the polymer branches |
Highly soluble, non-immunogenic, high loading capacity, controlled synthesis |
Lacking data on toxicity and biocompatibility |
Iron oxide nanoparticles |
Iron oxide core surrounded by biocompatible coating |
Attached to the surface/surface coating |
Innate magnetic properties |
No internal loading capacity |
Gold nanoparticles |
Solid gold particles typically coated with PEG chains |
Attached to the surface/surface coating |
Innate optical and photothermal properties |
No internal loading capacity, poor biocompatibility and biodegradability |
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles |
Mesopores surrounded by a silica framework |
Encapsulated within the mesopores |
High loading capacity, good biodegradability |
Issues with physiological stability, rapid clearance rates |
Carbon nanoparticles |
Graphite arranged in either a sheet or cylindrical conformation |
Attached to the carbon backbone |
Innate optical and electrical properties, high surface loading capacities |
Poor biodegradability, organ accumulation |
Quantum dots |
Typically a cadmium selenide core with a zinc selenide cap |
Attached to the surface/surface coating |
Innate optical properties, high extinction coefficients |
No internal loading capacity, potential toxicity issues |