Table 1 The advantages and disadvantages of various nanoparticle systems
 | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Carbon nanotubes | Wide surface area for efficient drug loading High cell permeability Chemical inertness Flexible functionalization | Latent toxicity (Carcinogenicity) Hydrophobicity Immunogenicity Inferior dispersion in body fluid |
Graphene-based nanomaterials | Large surface area Acceptable biocompatibility Excellent physical properties Facile functionalization | Hydrophobicity Immunogenicity Potential accumulation |
Carbon dots | Simple synthetic materials Diverse synthetic methods Great biocompatibility Photoluminescence | Autofluorescence under UV and damage to adjacent tissues Deficiency of information about the delivery mechanisms |
Metal–organic frameworks | Extremely large surface area Easy synthesis and modification Stimuli-responsive system | Relative instability Underlying toxicity Agglomeration Poor dispersion |
Liposomes | Excellent biocompatibility Broad adaptability Low immunogenicity Facile fabrication method | Rapid clearance Low stability Low transfection rate |
Mesoporous silica | Tailorable mesoporous structure Larger surface area and pore volume Well biocompatibility | Burst release Poor stability Rapid elimination |
Gold nanoparticles | Ultra-small sizes Tunable structures Excellent optical properties | Poor elimination rate (retention) Potential toxicity Non-biodegradability |
Polymeric micelles | Minimal size Self-assembly pH-sensitive Well biocompatibility | Rapid clearance Off-target effect Dissociation Secondary aggregation |
Dendrimers | Small size High molecular uniformity and monodispersity Ease of surface modification Nonimmunogenicity | Nondegradability Cytotoxicity affected by generations and cationic surface |
Nanogel | Excellent biocompatibility High stability Large drug loading efficiency Stimulus-responsive capacity Controlled release | Clearance in circulation Uptake by mononuclear phagocytic system |