Efficient and safe magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedicine

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxides are utilized in vivo investigations, in diagnosis and therapy treatments for their no-toxicity, biodegradability and magnetic properties. Compared to the conventional, non-targeted methods of drug delivery, magnetic nanoparticles with proper surface modification and conjugated targeting ligands/molecules are promising drug carriers due to the better specificity to the target site that can be assisted with a magnet and the reduced adverse effects [1]. Recent efforts are focused in designing new multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles to address the problems found in biomedical applications [2]. For example, to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of MRI, other materials (organic and inorganic) responsible for different imaging modalities are combined with the nanoparticles [3, 4]. Therapeutic efficacy can be also improved by synthesizing MNPs and controlling the nanoparticle assembling [5]. However, biodistribution and metabolism of these new nanoparticles need to be better understood before serving as nanoplatforms for highly efficient diagnostic and therapeutic applications.