title: PEGylated inorganic nanoparticles.
abstract: Application of inorganic nanoparticles in diagnosis and therapy has become a critical component in the targeted treatment of diseases. The surface modification of inorganic oxides is important for providing diversity in size, shape, solubility, long-term stability, and attachment of selective functional groups. This Minireview describes the role of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the surface modification of oxides and focuses on their biomedical applications. Such a PEGylation of surfaces provides "stealth" characteristics to nanomaterials otherwise identified as foreign materials by human body. The role of PEG as structure-directing agent in synthesis of oxides is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory, PNNL, Richland, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Ajay S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Karakoti
authors.forename: Soumen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Suntharampillai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thevuthasan
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seal
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008670:Metals; D010087:Oxides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols