Delivery of drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids using inorganic nanoparticles.

Inorganic nanoparticles provide multipurpose platforms for a broad range of delivery applications. Intrinsic nanoscopic properties provide access to unique magnetic and optical properties. Equally importantly, the structural and functional diversity of gold, silica, iron oxide, and lanthanide-based nanocarriers provide unrivalled control of nanostructural properties for effective transport of therapeutic cargos, overcoming biobarriers on the cellular and organismal level. Taken together, inorganic nanoparticles provide a key addition to the arsenal of delivery vectors for fighting disease and improving human health.