Functional roles of magnetic nanoparticles for the identification of metastatic lymph nodes in cancer patients

Abstract

Staging lymph nodes (LN) is crucial in diagnosing and treating cancer metastasis. Biotechnologies for the specific localization of metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) have attracted significant attention to efficiently define tumor metastases. Bioimaging modalities, particularly magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) such as iron oxide nanoparticles, have emerged as promising tools in cancer bioimaging, with great potential for use in the preoperative and intraoperative tracking of MLNs. As radiation-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, MNPs can serve as alternative MRI contrast agents, offering improved accuracy and biological safety for nodal staging in cancer patients. Although MNPs’ application is still in its initial stages, exploring their underlying mechanisms can enhance the sensitivity and multifunctionality of lymph node mapping. This review focuses on the feasibility and current application status of MNPs for imaging metastatic nodules in preclinical and clinical development. Furthermore, exploring novel and promising MNP-based strategies with controllable characteristics could lead to a more precise treatment of metastatic cancer patients.

Nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery and drug resistance in glioma: New perspectives

“…Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are nanomaterials with superparamagnetic properties and core diameters ranging from 3 to 15 nm; SPIONs have excellent magnetic properties and stability and can be stabilized under physiological conditions 91,142,143 . Such NPs can be obtained by various preparation methods, including high‐temperature thermal decomposition of organic precursors and chemical synthesis 144–146 .…”

“…Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are nanomaterials with superparamagnetic properties and core diameters ranging from 3 to 15 nm; SPIONs have excellent magnetic properties and stability and can be stabilized under physiological conditions. 91 , 142 , 143 Such NPs can be obtained by various preparation methods, including high‐temperature thermal decomposition of organic precursors and chemical synthesis. 144 , 145 , 146 Among them, high‐temperature pyrolysis of organic precursors is a commonly used preparation method to obtain SPIONs with uniform size and morphology; SPIONs can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging to improve image resolution and contrast due to their small size and magnetic response.…”

Advanced Nano-Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

“…Clinical approval of iron oxide-based MRI contrast agents has been obtained in Europe and the United States; however, challenges persist in their clinical translation [152]. Overall, iron oxide-based nanoparticles hold excellent potential for application and clinical translation [153][154][155][156][157].…”