Table 1 Inorganic drug delivery NCs in cancer therapy

CNT

Anti-P-glycoprotein antibody functionalized CNT-doxorubicin

Defeats multidrug resistance

Leukemia cells

[31]

CNT

Multi-walled CNT decorated with guanidinylated dendritic molecular transporters

Efficient DOX delivery

Prostate cancer cells

[32]

CNT

PEG-CNT complex

Mitochondrial targeting

Lung cancer cells

[33]

Layered double hydroxide NPs

Co-delivery of 5-fluorouracil and siRNAs

Prevents drug resistance and enhances cancer treatment

Various cancer cells

[34]

Layered double hydroxide NPs

Raloxifene intercalated into the interlayer gallery of LDH host

Improves therapeutic efficacy, reduction of adverse side effects

Solid tumors

[35]

Iron oxide NPs

Phospholipid-PEG-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs

Chemotherapy and hyperthermia treatment

Solid cancers

[36]

Magnetic NPs

Pluronic F127-anchored iron oxide NPs

Active and passive delivery of hydrophobic drugs

Folate-positive cancer cells

[37]

Magnetic NPs

Chitosan-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs

Doxorubicin delivery

Ovarian cancer cells

[38]

Mesoporous silica NPs

Azobenzene-modified mesoporous silica for NIR-triggered anticancer drug delivery

Drug release rate can be controlled by varying the intensity and/or time

Solid tumor

[39]

Mesoporous silica NPs

Hyaluronic acid-capped mesoporous Silica NPs

Site-selective, controlled-release delivery

MDA-MB-231 and NIH3T3 cells

[40]

QDs

Riboflavin-tageting graphene quantum dots-PEG-benzofuran

High potency, improved dispersibility

Laryngeal, lung and colorectal cancer cells

[2]

QDs

Hyaluronic acid/ferrocene (Fc)-anchored nitrogen-doped graphene QDs (Fc-GQD-HA)

Selective binding to CD44 receptors, redox-based drug delivery

Diverse range of cancer cells

[41]

QDs

Hederagenin anchored black phosphorus QDs encapsulated with platelet membrane

Mono-dispersive capacity, elevated drug-loading

In vivo application

[42]