Surface Engineered Nanoparticles: Considerations for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The development of reproducible methods for the fabrication of nanoparticles in the 21st century is a major scientific achievement. Currently, there are many well-established methods for the production of nanoparticles of different shapes, sizes, and compositions. Along with these advancements in nanotechnology, nanoparticles have emerged as excellent tools for a diverse range of applications and have become a focus of research globally. With fundamental research being established, efforts are now being directed toward intelligently designed nanoparticles in which the properties of the nanomaterial are finely tuned depending on the application of interest. Usually, this involves the functionalization of the nanoparticle surface with a ligand. In this review, the impact of nanoparticle surface chemistry is discussed as it applies to biological systems.