Table 1.

Nanosystems: principal categories, characteristics, and applications.

Major Categories of Nanosystems	Types of Nanocarriers	Characteristics
	Carbon nanotubes	Size: single-walled carbon nanotubes (0.5–1.5 nm) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (>100 nm) Remarkable strength, unique electrical properties, functionalization-enhanced solubility, penetration to cell cytoplasm and to the nucleus, as a carrier for gene delivery [27,28]
	Dendrimers	Size: <10 nm Highly branched, nearly monodisperse polymer system, controlled delivery of bio-actives [29,30,31]
	Liposomes	Size: 50–100 nm Phospholipid vesicles, biocompatible, versatile, passive and active delivery of genes, peptides, and proteins [24,32,33]
	Metallic nanoparticles	Size: <100 nm Stable, high surface area available for functionalization, diagnostic value, drug and gene therapy [34,35]
	Nanocrystals (Quantum dots)	Size: 2–9.5 nm Semiconducting material, VDNA hybridization, immunoassay [36,37]
	Micelles	Size: 10–100 nm High drug entrapment, biostability, passive and active drugs transport [38,39]
	Nanoparticles	Size: 10–1000 nm Biodegradable, biocompatible, complete drug protection, excellent carrier for drugs, passive and active drugs transport [40]