ABSTRACT
Recent progress in nanotechnology has indicated that nanoparticles (ranging in size from 1 to 1,000 nm) can be successfully used as drug carriers with adjusted physicochemical and biological properties, such as small size, increased drug accumulation, therapeutic effects, ability to cross the tissue barrier, controlled drug release, etc. Based on shape, nanoparticles can be of 0D, 1D, 2D, or 3D structure types, and depending on their source/type of materials, they can be separated into different categories such as carbon-based, metal-based, semiconductor-based, ceramic-based, polymeric-based, and lipid-based nanoparticles. This chapter provides an overview to diverse categories in biomedical sector that deploys the use of nanotechnology in different aspects.
