Table 1.

Commonly used nanomaterials in nanomedicine

Sr. No.	Type of nanomedicine	Nanomaterial	Application	Reference
1	Metal nanoparticles	Gold, silver, aluminium, copper, iron, etc.	Drug delivery, gene delivery, radiotherapy, antimicrobial, antibacterial and diagnostic assay	[39, 40]
2	Polymeric nanoparticles	Polyethyleneimine, PEG, PLGA, PLA, Polystyrol, etc.	Release models, drug delivery (rate-controlled, matrix, programmed and activation modulated)	[41, 42]
3	Quantum dots	Cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride and zinc oxide	Optical imaging, sensor and drug delivery	[43]
4	Dendrimers	Poly(amidoamine), poly-propylene imine, poly-benzyl ether, etc.	Drug delivery, gene delivery, sensor and photodynamic therapy	[44–46]
5	Lipid nanoparticles	Phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, soya lecithin, dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, etc.	Drug and gene delivery systems	[47]
6	Others (Nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanogel, etc.)	Naturally-originated materials like chitosan, acacia, tragacanth, gelatin, albumin, etc.	Drug and gene delivery systems	[48]