Ultrasmall nanoparticulate materials with core sizes in the 1-3 nm range bridge the gap between single molecules and classical, larger-sized nanomaterials, not only in terms of spatial dimension, but also as regards physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties.
Due to these unique properties, ultrasmall nanoparticles appear to be promising materials for nanomedicinal applications. This review overviews the different synthetic methods of inorganic ultrasmall nanoparticles as well as their properties, characterization, surface modification and toxicity. We moreover summarize the current state of knowledge regarding pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and targeting of nanoscale materials. Aside from addressing the issue of biomolecular corona formation and elaborating on the interactions of ultrasmall nanoparticles with individual cells, we discuss the potential diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications of ultrasmall nanoparticles in the emerging field of nanomedicine in the final part of this review.
Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine. 2016 Mar 21 [Epub ahead of print]
Kristof Zarschler, Louise Rocks, Nadia Licciardello, Luca Boselli, Ester Polo, Karina Pombo Garcia, Luisa De Cola, Holger Stephan, Kenneth A Dawson
Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany. Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland., Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; Laboratoire de Chimie et des Biomatériaux Supramoléculaires, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany., Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland., Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland., Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany., Laboratoire de Chimie et des Biomatériaux Supramoléculaires, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany., Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany., Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.