Oxide and hybrid nanostructures for therapeutic applications

The research on biomedical applications of nanoparticles has seen an upsurge in recent years due to their unique capabilities in treatment of ailments. Though there are ample reviews on the advances of nanoparticles right from their fabrication to applications, comparatively fewer reviews are available for the nanostructured materials particularly on oxides and hybrids. These materials possess unique physicochemical properties with an ability to get functionalized at molecular and cellular level for biochemical interactions. Keeping the enormosity of the nanostructures in mind, we intend to cover only the recent and most noteworthy developments in this area. We, particularly emphasize on iron oxide and its derivatives, zinc oxides, layered double hydroxides, silica and binary/ternary metal oxides and their applications in the area of therapeutics. This review also focuses on the designing of biodegradable and biocompatible nanocarriers and critical issues related to their therapeutic applications. Several representative examples discuss targeting strategies and stimuli responsive nanocarriers and their therapeutics. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.