Nanoparticles can be classified according to their size, morphology, and physical and chemical properties. This classification often determines their specific applications, particularly in the biomedical field.

Carbon-Based Nanoparticles

Carbon-based nanoparticles include carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and fullerenes. CNTs are cylindrical nanostructures with unique properties: they are thermally conductive along their length but non-conductive across the tube. They are categorized into single-walled (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Fullerenes are spherical or ellipsoidal carbon allotropes, with C60 (Buckminster fullerenes) resembling a hollow football.

Biomedical Applications:

• Drug delivery vehicles
• Biosensors
• Tissue engineering scaffolds
• Cancer therapy
• Diagnostic imaging
• Antimicrobial agents

Ceramic Nanoparticles

Ceramic nanoparticles are inorganic solids made of oxides, carbides, carbonates, and phosphates. They are known for their high heat resistance and chemical inertness.

Biomedical Applications:

• Drug delivery systems for diseases like bacterial infections, glaucoma, and cancer
• Bone repair
• Diagnostic imaging
• Photodynamic therapy
• Biosensors

Metal Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles are synthesized from metal precursors through chemical, electrochemical, or photochemical methods. Common types include silver, gold, palladium, titanium, zinc, and copper nanoparticles.

Biomedical Applications:

• Drug delivery systems for therapeutic agents, including antibodies, nucleic acids, peptides
• Diagnostic imaging (e.g., gold nanoparticles for enhanced electron microscopy)
• Photothermal therapy
• Antimicrobial agents
• Biosensors

Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Semiconductor nanoparticles have properties intermediate between metals and non-metals and belong to groups II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI in the periodic table. Examples include GaN, GaP, InP, InAs (III-V), ZnO, ZnS, CdS, CdSe, CdTe (II-VI), and silicon and germanium (IV).

Biomedical application:

• Diagnostic imaging
• Photodynamic therapy
• Drug delivery systems
• Biosensors
• Cancer therapy

Polymeric Nanoparticles

Polymeric nanoparticles are organic-based and can have structures like nanocapsules or nanospheres. Nanospheres have a matrix-like structure, while nanocapsules have a core-shell morphology.

Advantages:

• Controlled drug release
• Protection of drug molecules during transit
• Combination of therapy and imaging
• Specific targeting

Biomedical Applications:

• Drug delivery systems
• Diagnostics
• Gene therapy
• Cancer therapy

Lipid Nanoparticles

Lipid nanoparticles are typically spherical with diameters from 10 to 100 nm. Their structure includes a solid lipid core and an external core stabilized by surfactants and emulsifiers.

Biomedical Applications:

• Drug carriers
• RNA release in cancer therapy
• Transport of poorly water-soluble drugs and oligonucleotides in gene therapy
• Vaccine delivery (e.g., mRNA vaccines)

Synthesis and Applications

Nanomaterials are synthesized using various methods, such as physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrospinning, and 3D printing. These materials have superior mechanical performance, surface functionalization, large surface area, and tunable porosity, making them ideal for biomedical applications.

Classification Based on Properties

• Dimensionality: 0D (fixed point), 1D (e.g., carbon nanotubes), 2D (e.g., graphene), 3D (length, height, and width).
• Chemical Composition: Organic nanomaterials (e.g., micelles, dendrimers), inorganic nanomaterials (e.g., metals, metal oxides), carbon-based nanomaterials (e.g., fullerenes, carbon nanotubes), and composite nanostructures.
• Porosity: Porous (allowing airflow or absorption) and non-porous materials.

Emerging Applications in Medicine

Nanoparticles and nanostructured materials have seen extensive research and application in the biomedical field, including:

• Bioimaging: Fluorescent nanoparticles as sensitive indicators.
• Tissue Engineering: Nanofiber scaffolds for tissue repair and regeneration.
• Drug Delivery: Targeted delivery systems for treating chronic diseases.
• Biosensors: Carbon and metal-based nanoparticles for detecting biomolecules.
• Antimicrobial: Nanoparticles like silver, gold, and copper oxide for wound healing and infection prevention.

Nawah Scientific

Nawah Scientific is at the forefront of leveraging nanotechnology for biomedical applications. Their research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing various types of nanoparticles to enhance drug delivery systems. By pushing the boundaries of nanotechnology, Nawah Scientific aims to revolutionize medical treatments and diagnostics.

Nawah Scientific can help you with custom synthesis of the most appropriate nano drug delivery system that can host your drug of choice and matches the needed use and route of administration. Their nanotechnology team can provide tailored tools for solubility enhancement of insoluble drugs, targeted drug delivery purposes, improved pharmacokinetic profiles, stabilization of labile drugs, and enhancement of local or systemic bioavailability.

Range of expertise at Nawah Scientific includes:

• Polymeric nanoparticles (e.g. PLGA, PLA, Dendrimers, etc.)
• Vesicular delivery systems (e.g. Liposomes, niosomes, proniosomes, etc.)
• Lipid-based systems (Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), Nanoemulsions, etc.)
• Inorganic nanoparticles (Gold, silver, iron, silica, etc.)
• Nanogels

Check Nawah Scientific website here: https://nawah-scientific.com/

References

  Harish V, Tewari D, Gaur M, et al. Review on Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Materials: Bioimaging, Biosensing, Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering, Antimicrobial, and Agro-Food Applications. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2022;12(3):457. Published 2022 Jan 28. doi:10.3390/nano12030457