title: Strategies for the intracellular delivery of nanoparticles.
abstract: The ability to target contrast agents and therapeutics inside cells is becoming important as we strive to decipher the complex network of events that occur within living cells and design therapies that can modulate these processes. Nanotechnology researchers have generated a growing list of nanoparticles designed for such applications. These particles can be assembled from a variety of materials into desirable geometries and configurations and possess useful properties and functionalities. Undoubtedly, the effective delivery of these nanomaterials into cells will be critical to their applications. In this tutorial review, we discuss the fundamental challenges of delivering nanoparticles into cells and to the targeted organelles, and summarize strategies that have been developed to-date.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.
authors.forename: Leo Y T
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Warren C W
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides