Table 4.
Characteristics of NPs and their main functions in the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
| Nanoparticles | Examples | Main Medical Applications | Additional Properties | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic | Dendrimers | -drug delivery system to CNS -extended circulation time of drugs -targeted drug release -reduced toxicity of anticancer drugs |
-only small-size NPs can cross BBB ( <12 nm) -not fully explored, further research required -potential neurotoxicity and systemic toxicity |
|
| Liposomes | -sensitivity to light | |||
| Micelles | ||||
| Polymeric NPs | ||||
| Inorganic | Gold NPs | -drug delivery system to CNS -extended circulation time of drugs -targeted drug release -reduced toxicity of anticancer drugs -tissue imaging |
-photothermal therapy -enhanced sensitivity to radiation—combined therapy possible |
|
| Silver NPs | ||||
| Iron oxide NPs | -photothermal therapy | |||
| Silica NPs | ||||
| Quantum Dots | -extremely small size 2–20 nm |