Table 3.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapies.

Nanoparticle Class	Advantages	Disadvantages
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNPs)	Controlled synthesis using oil-in-water microemulsions	Majority of SLNPs accumulate in liver and spleen tissue
	Optimal for loading of lipophilic agents
Micellar Chimeric Polypeptide Nanoparticles (CP-NPs)	Significant anti-cancer toxicity with minimal off-target toxicity	Synthesis of CP-NPs requires synthesis in Escherichia coli and purification of endotoxin prior to administration
	Ease of synthesis with targeting domains and peptides encoded at the gene level into a fusion protein with the CP-NPs
Dendrimers	Ability to synthesize nanoparticles with targeting ligands for cancer therapies	Accumulation in kidney tissue and likely RES organs reduces anti-cancer efficacy
PEG-PLGA Nanoparticles	Significantly less accumulation in liver, kidney, heart, and lung tissue than other nanoparticle systems	Allergic reactions due to anti-PEG antibodies may limit widespread use
	Simple synthesis and encapsulation of chemotherapeutics