Comparative summary of nano-biomaterials for Alzheimer’s disease.
| Nano-biomaterial | Primary application | Key advantages | Major limitations | BBB penetration | Overall translational promises | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum dots | Imaging and diagnosis | Strong optical properties, high sensitivity, resistance to photobleaching | Neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, Ca2+ elevation, unclear long-term safety | Yes (very small size) | Moderate for diagnostics; limited for therapy | [29–31] |
| Metallic nanoparticles | Drug delivery, imaging, theranostics | Versatile functionalization, multifunctionality, imaging compatibility | Oxidative stress, lysosomal dysfunction, chronic toxicity concerns | Yes | Moderate, constrained by safety concerns | [32–36] |
| Dendrimers | Targeted drug delivery, imaging | Highly controlled structure, surface functionalization, CNS targeting | Early-stage development, limited clinical validation | Yes | High potential with further validation | [37–39] |
| Carbon nanotubes | Drug delivery and bioimaging | Electrical and mechanical strength, structural uniqueness | Inflammation, DNA damage, free radical generation | Yes | Low to moderate, mainly experimental | [37, 40, 41] |
| Polymeric nanoparticles | Therapeutic drug delivery | Biodegradable, non-toxic, stable, protects drugs from degradation | Formulation-dependent performance | Yes | High, clinically favorable | [37, 42] |
| Liposomes | Drug delivery | High biocompatibility, low toxicity, versatile drug loading | Microglial uptake, formulation stability issues | Yes | High, well-established system | [43] |
| Polymeric micelles | Drug solubilization and delivery | Amphiphilic nature, enhanced solubility, targeted delivery | Dependence on size and shell composition | Yes | Moderate to high | [37, 44] |
This table illustrates how nano-biomaterial platforms used in Alzheimer’s disease differ in terms of diagnostic capability, therapeutic efficiency, and biological safety. While polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles offer better biocompatibility and translational practicality for long-term drug delivery, quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles exhibit remarkable imaging and theranostic potential. These comparisons highlight that effective nanotherapeutic and theranostic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease rely on combining diagnostic functionality with safe and targeted therapeutic performance across BBB constraints and amyloid-centered pathology, rather than prioritising a single material property. BBB: blood-brain barrier; CNS: central nervous system.