Table 1.

Size and advantages of drug carrier materials.

Name	Diameter/Aperture	Advantage	References
Solid lipid nanoparticles	100–1000 nm	Low toxicity, highly effective drug targeting, controlled-release drugs, high drug loads (especially lipophilic drugs), prevents degradation and has versatility	[112,113,114]
Lipidosome	50–200 nm	Biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-immunogenic	[115]
Dendritic polymer	1.5–14.5 nm	Spherical homogeneous structure, high biocompatibility, lipophilic, variable composition	[116]
Nanocapsule	10–1000 nm	Improves efficacy and bioavailability, prevents drug degradation, and provides controlled-release delivery	[117]
Polymeric micelle	10–100 nm	Improves bioavailability, alters drug release curves, and improves patient compliance	[118]
Mesoporous silica material	2–50 nm	Good biocompatibility, large specific surface area, large porosity, high drug carrying capacity, good thermal and chemical stability, can carry hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs	[119,120,121]
Carbon nano tube	0.4–2 nm	Water solubility, biocompatibility, low toxicity, high drug load, intrinsic stability, high specific surface area	[122,123,124]
	2–100 nm
Nano-emulsion	Submicron order	High stability, high load capacity, improved solubility and bioavailability	[125]
Nanocrystal	1–1000 nm	Stabilized by surfactants or stabilizers, no need for carrier materials, drug nanocrystals can enhance the adhesion to biofilms, increases the saturation solubility of drugs, large specific surface area, high bioavailability, high stability, high drug loading capacity, stable dissolution, sustained release drugs and safety	[126,127,128]