Table 1: Different polymeric nanoparticles used as nanocarriers.

Polymeric nanocarrier Structure Characteristics Technology applied in biomedicine Company Reference Nanoparticles (polymer-substance conjugate) Substance of interest is conjugated to the side chain of a linear polymer with a linker Water-soluble, nontoxic, biodegradable. Surface modification (pegylation)    Selective accumulation and retention in tumor tissue when used as drug carrier    Specific targeting of certain cells through receptor-mediated targeting with a ligand Polymeric nanoparticles engineered to carry antitumor drugs across blood-brain barrier    Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery    Polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles coated with drugs and then a surfactant which go across blood-brain barrier Advectus Life Sciences Inc.   Alnis Biosciences, Inc.   NanoPharm AG [9, 27] Micelles Assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers forming a micelle with a hydrophobic shell Suitable carriers for water-insoluble drugs    Biocompatible, self-assembling, and biodegradable    Ease of functional modification can become targeted Glucose level monitoring in diabetes mellitus   Encapsulation of insulin for treatment of diabetes    Cell membrane and intracellular labeling  Encapsulation of drugs, protein DNA  Magnetic cores surrounded by a polymeric layer coated with antibodies for capturing cells NanoCarrier Co., Ltd.   Immunicon [27–29] Dendrimers Hyperbranched synthetic polymer with regular pattern and repeated units Biodistribution pharmacokinetics can be controlled   High structural and chemical homogeneity    Easily functionalized    Allows high ligand and drug density    Controlled degradation    Multifunctionality Water soluble dendrimer based contrast agents for computed tomography    Delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs Starpharma [21, 22]