Table 1 Summary of the physical characteristics of the nanoparticles used in the present study

Polystyrene 180+

180

52.2

N/A

Quaternary ammonium

Sciventions

Polystyrene 180−

180

− 40.9

N/A

Sulphonate

Sciventions

Polystyrene 275+

275

42.2

N/A

Quaternary ammonium

Sciventions

Polystyrene 300–

300

− 37.2

N/A

Sulphonate

Sciventions

Polystyrene 440+

440

39.2

N/A

Quaternary ammonium

Sciventions

Polystyrene 440−

440

− 34.9

N/A

Sulphonate

Sciventions

Gold 10−

10

N/A

Sodium citrate

N/A

BBInternational

Gold 11 –

11

N/A

N/A

HS-PEG and peptidols

University of Liverpool [49]

Silver 10−

10

− 39.0

Sodium polyacrylate

N/A

Sciventions

Silver 20+

20

N/A

Sodium citrate

N/A

Sigma-Aldrich

Endorem

5

– 6.8

Sodium citrate

Mannitol

Guerbet GmbH

Ferumoxytol

30

− 30.6

N/A

Carboxyl

AMAG Pharmaceuticals

DEAE-Dex SPION

6.9

20.2

N/A

Diethylaminoethyl dextran

University of Liverpool [50]

Titanium (IV) oxide 21+

21

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc oxide 35+

35

N/A

3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane

N/A

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc oxide 50+

50

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc oxide 100+

100

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sigma-Aldrich

Silica 50-

50

− 34.7

l-arginine

N/A

Sciventions

Silica 310–

310

− 37.1

l-arginine

N/A

Sciventions

Silica 100+

100

N/A

N/A

N/A

Invivogen