Surface Modification of Biomedically Essential Nanoparticles Employing Polymer Coating

Colloidal nanoparticles offering multiple biological applications carry tremendous potential to be developed as future medicines or nanomedicines. However, to decrease the particle agglomeration and enhance the stability of nanoparticles, functionalization could be of great interest. Functionalization is also capable of molding the delivery system for targeting and selective delivery of drugs and other biomolecules. In particular, the control over the size and the surface chemistry is crucial, since the successful applications in the prevention of diseases required biocompatibility at biological interfaces. Regardless of the advancements noted in nanotechnology-based nanoparticles, the development of nontoxic/biocompatible multi-functionalized nanoparticles is still a critical problem for researchers and requires urgent attention. In this chapter, an overview of nanoparticle functionalization with particular emphasis on its principle, needs, and formulation strategies has been discussed. Moreover, various applications of different surface-functionalized nanoparticles such as gold, silver, silicon, magnetic, liposomes, dendrimers, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid, and solid lipid nanoparticles have also been presented.