Perspective on Nanoparticle Technology for Biomedical Use

Abstract

This review gives a short overview on the widespread use of nanostructured and nanocomposite materials for disease diagnostics, drug delivery, imaging and biomedical sensing applications. Nanoparticle interaction with a biological matrix/entity is greatly influenced by its morphology, crystal phase, surface chemistry, functionalization, physicochemical and electronic properties of the particle. Various nanoparticle synthesis routes, characterization, and functionalization methodologies to be used for biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to molecular probing of underlying mechanisms and concepts are described with several examples (150 references).

Figure 1

Schematic diagram for cell targeted delivery of therapeutic agents carried by a nanoparticle. The process is comprised of three sequential steps: (i) nanoparticle binding to target cells via multivalent receptor–ligand interactions, (ii) intracellular uptake of the nanoparticle via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and (iii) intracellular drug release or action [1]. Abbrevation: AuNP: Gold nanoparticle;IONP: Iron Oxide nanoparticle; QD: Quantum dots; FA:folic acid; MTX: methotrexate; RF: riboflavin; EGF: epidermal growth factor; RGD: Arg-Gly-Asp; FAR: folate receptor; RFR:riboflavin receptor; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; PSMA: prostate-specific membrane antigen

Figure 2

A typical steps for an aerosol synthesis of nanoparticles and application (a) Schematic of aerosol-based routes for material synthesis. The two major synthesis routes are vapor-to-particle formation and droplet-to-particle formation. In droplet-to-particle formation, a precursor solution is atomized to form small droplets, which evaporate until the solute precipitates and homogenous reaction takes place on the surface of the droplet to form a particle. In vapor-to-particle formation, the precursor takes the form of a vapor, which can undergo either homogenous gas-phase reaction to form molecules of the desired material that then nucleate and grow through coagulation or sintering or heterogeneous reaction on the substrate surface to form thin films of the desired material. (b) Schematic of aerosol-based routes for drug delivery. Traditional drug delivery routes are through the respiratory system; however, more recent advances are focused on delivery directly to the brain, through the blood-brain barrier and axonal transport.