Physical Properties of Nanoparticles That Result in Improved Cancer Targeting

Table 1

Biodistribution of NPs with different sizes in the liver, spleen, tumor, kidney, brain, and lung.

Authors	NP size	Liver	Spleen	Tumor	Kidney	Brain	Lung	Other
Li et al. [32]	6.2, 24.3, 42.5, and 61.2 nm mean diameter	High 42.5 and 61.2 nm	High 42.5 and 61.2 nm	6.2 and 24.3 nm	6.2 and 24.3 nm	6.2 and 24.3 nm	6.2 and 24.3 nm
Sonavane et al. [27]	15, 20, and 100 nm	High % for all	High % for all	15 > 20>100 nm	High % for all	(i) 15 nm low %; (ii) 20 nm absent; (iii) 100 nm absent	(i) 15 and 20 nm high %; (ii) 100 nm low %	(i) 15 nm absent; (ii) 20 and 100 nm traces
Tate et al. [33]	20 and 100 nm	High 20 nm < 100 nm	High for all	20 > 100 nm	20 < 100 nm	Traces	High	—
Takeuchi et al. [34]	20, 50, and 100 nm	High % for all	High for all	20 > 50>100 nm	20, 50, and 100 nm Moderate	(i) 20 nm moderate%; (ii) 50 and 100 nm absent	Moderate	Traces
Dziendzikowska et al. [35]	−20 and 200 nm silver NP(AgNPs)	(i) 20 nm high % (24 h); (ii) 200 nm moderate %	(i) 20 nm high (7 days); (ii) 200 nm low	Absent for both	(i) High % 20 nm; (ii) low %200 nm	(i) 20 nm Moderate %; (ii) 200 nm low %	(i) 20 nm high % after 7 days; (ii) 200 nm low %	(i) 20 nm traces; (ii) 200 nm absent

It can be concluded that the smaller the size of NPs, the more accumulation found in the spleen, liver, and lung than the kidney; a moderate concentration could accumulate in the tumors and only a low quantity is able to cross the blood brain barrier to accumulate in the brain, whereas the higher the size (+100 nm), the greater distribution in the liver, kidney, and spleen. None of these studies found a good distribution in the brain and only traces of large diameters were found in the tumor.