Novel strategies for managing pancreatic cancer

Table 2 The selection criteria for nanomaterial drug delivery systems

Nano particulate material	Size (nm)	Therapeutic agent(s) carried	Advantages	Limitations
Biodegradable polymers	10-100	Plasmid DNA, proteins, peptides, low molecular-weight (MW) organic compounds	Sustained localized drug delivery for weeks	Exocytosis of undissolved nanoparticles. Fixed functionality after synthesis may require new synthetic pathways for alternate surface functionalities
Ceramic	< 100	Proteins, DNA, chemotherapeutic agents, high MW organic compounds	Easily prepared, water dispersible, stable in biological environments	Toxicity of materials, exocytosis of undissolved nanoparticles, time consuming synthesis, surface decoration instead of encapsulation
Metals	< 50	Proteins, DNA, chemotherapeutic agents	Small particles present a large surface area for surface decoration delivery	Toxicity of materials, exocytosis of undissolved nanoparticles, time consuming synthesis, surface decoration instead of encapsulation
Polymeric micelles	< 100	Proteins, DNA, chemotherapeutic agents	Suitable for water-insoluble drugs due to hydrophobic core	Toxicity of materials, fixed functionality after synthesis
Dendrimers	< 10	Chemotherapeutic agents, anti-bacterial, anti-viral agents, DNA, high MW organic compounds	Suitable for hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs	May use toxic materials, time consuming synthesis, fixed functionality after synthesis may require new synthetic pathways for alternate surface functionalities
Liposomes	50-100	Chemotherapeutic agents, proteins, DNA	Reduced systemic toxicity, increased circulation time	Fixed functionality after synthesis, some leakage of encapsulated agent, lack of colloidal stability
3D printing	20-2000	Chemotherapeutic agents, proteins, DNA, imaging agents	Precise control over size, shape, and surface functionalization. 3D printing can be used with an array of processing techniques to create porous scaffolds[85] and lab-on-chip devices[86] for personalized medicine[87]	Toxicity of materials depending on material
Calcium phosphosilicate	20-60	Chemotherapeutic agents, RNA, high and low MW organic compounds, imaging agents	Simple preparation, suitable for hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs, colloidal stability in physiological environments, pH-dependent dissolution results in intracellular delivery of drugs, composed of bio-resorbable material	Encapsulated materials limited to solubility in water or organic solvent

Reprinted and updated with permission from [71] which contains material adapted from [84]. Copyright 2010 American Chemical Society.