title: Ultrasmall inorganic nanoparticles: State-of-the-art and perspectives for biomedical applications.
abstract: Ultrasmall nanoparticulate materials with core sizes in the 1-3nm range bridge the gap between single molecules and classical, larger-sized nanomaterials, not only in terms of spatial dimension, but also as regards physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Due to these unique properties, ultrasmall nanoparticles appear to be promising materials for nanomedicinal applications. This review overviews the different synthetic methods of inorganic ultrasmall nanoparticles as well as their properties, characterization, surface modification and toxicity. We moreover summarize the current state of knowledge regarding pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and targeting of nanoscale materials. Aside from addressing the issue of biomolecular corona formation and elaborating on the interactions of ultrasmall nanoparticles with individual cells, we discuss the potential diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications of ultrasmall nanoparticles in the emerging field of nanomedicine in the final part of this review.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: k.zarschler@hzdr.de.
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarschler
authors.affiliation: Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rocks
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, Germany; Laboratoire de Chimie et des Biomatériaux Supramoléculaires, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), 8 allée Gaspard Monge, Strasbourg, France; Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Licciardello
authors.affiliation: Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boselli
authors.affiliation: Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Karina Pombo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie et des Biomatériaux Supramoléculaires, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), 8 allée Gaspard Monge, Strasbourg, France; Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Cola
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.affiliation: Centre For BioNano Interactions (CBNI), School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
keywords: Active targeting; Cancer; Nanomedicine; Pharmacokinetics; Protein corona; Renal excretion; Ultrasmall nanoparticles