Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Hydrophobic
core
Drug
Nanosphere
Nanocapsule
PEG
Polymeric micelles
Drug
Antibody
Internal cavity
Core
Branching units
Liposome
Fourth generation dendrimer
ZnS
Ligand
CdSe
Ligand
Fe3O4
Ligand
Ligand conjugated
ZnS-capped CdSe quantum dots
Ferrofluid conjugated to ligand
FIGURE 19.2
Schematics of different nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems.
Efficient gene delivery is an important component of gene therapy approaches. Potential safety prob-
lems with viral vectors as carriers necessitated the development of efficient nonviral vectors. DNA
complexes with synthetic cationic liposomes have become a simple means of transferring DNA into
target cells. Over the past few years, gene therapy has been shown to be effective in treating head and
neck cancer cells, tongue cancer cells, and squamous cell carcinoma
[38-41]
.
Nanoparticles are small polymeric colloidal particles with a therapeutic agent either dispersed in
polymer matrix or encapsulated in polymer. Polymeric micelles are self-assembled block copolymers,
