Nanomaterials in Medicine
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appealing for their potential to enhance the execution of drugs. Their formulations
for various application routes: parenteral, oral, dermal, visual, pulmonary, and rectal
are available [9].
7 Inorganic Nanomaterials
7.1 Silica NPs
Silica Nanoparticles are considered as promising nanocarriers because of their excellent biocompatibility, exploitable structures, and high loading efficiency. The porous
structure of silica nanoparticles makes them excellent nanocarriers for stem cells and
stem-cell-related factors. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been found capable
of loading neural growth factors to promote neural-cell and neurite growth, and
even to control the fate of neural stem cells. Moreover, many contrast agents can be
loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles to provide imaging modality further to
track the transplanted stem cells in vitro or in vivo. It is worth noting that silicates
are widely used as shell layers to encapsulate NPs for enhancing biocompatibility,
loading efficiency, and stability of the original nanoparticles. These silica post modifications have been found helpful and useful in the neural stem cell-based therapy of
neurological diseases [10].
7.2 Noble-Metal NPs
Noble-metal nanoparticles, such as gold and silver, are widely used in cancer theranostic applications [10]. These nanoparticles have unique optical properties like
photoacoustics and photothermal response [10]. Researchers use gold and silver
nanoparticles for bioimaging studies for their excellent localized surface plasmon
resonance [11].
In particular, gold nanoparticles are easily modifiable with functional ligands,
allowing the easy conjugation of biomolecules such as antibodies, proteins,
and oligonucleotides. Silver nanoparticles have been renowned for their antiinflammatory properties. Silver nanoparticles show a significant reduction of
microglial toxicity toward dopaminergic neurons. They are capable of crossing the
blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can cause neurotoxicity by accumulating in the
brain. Further evidence indicates that silver nanoparticles can be cytotoxic to neurons
that can cause neurodegeneration in vivo [12].
201
appealing for their potential to enhance the execution of drugs. Their formulations
for various application routes: parenteral, oral, dermal, visual, pulmonary, and rectal
are available [9].
7 Inorganic Nanomaterials
7.1 Silica NPs
Silica Nanoparticles are considered as promising nanocarriers because of their excellent biocompatibility, exploitable structures, and high loading efficiency. The porous
structure of silica nanoparticles makes them excellent nanocarriers for stem cells and
stem-cell-related factors. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been found capable
of loading neural growth factors to promote neural-cell and neurite growth, and
even to control the fate of neural stem cells. Moreover, many contrast agents can be
loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles to provide imaging modality further to
track the transplanted stem cells in vitro or in vivo. It is worth noting that silicates
are widely used as shell layers to encapsulate NPs for enhancing biocompatibility,
loading efficiency, and stability of the original nanoparticles. These silica post modifications have been found helpful and useful in the neural stem cell-based therapy of
neurological diseases [10].
7.2 Noble-Metal NPs
Noble-metal nanoparticles, such as gold and silver, are widely used in cancer theranostic applications [10]. These nanoparticles have unique optical properties like
photoacoustics and photothermal response [10]. Researchers use gold and silver
nanoparticles for bioimaging studies for their excellent localized surface plasmon
resonance [11].
In particular, gold nanoparticles are easily modifiable with functional ligands,
allowing the easy conjugation of biomolecules such as antibodies, proteins,
and oligonucleotides. Silver nanoparticles have been renowned for their antiinflammatory properties. Silver nanoparticles show a significant reduction of
microglial toxicity toward dopaminergic neurons. They are capable of crossing the
blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can cause neurotoxicity by accumulating in the
brain. Further evidence indicates that silver nanoparticles can be cytotoxic to neurons
that can cause neurodegeneration in vivo [12].