Open challenges in magnetic drug targeting

Abstract

The principle of magnetic drug targeting, wherein therapy is attached to magnetically responsive carriers and magnetic fields are used to direct that therapy to disease locations, has been around for nearly two decades. Yet our ability to safely and effectively direct therapy to where it needs to go, for instance to deep tissue targets, remains limited. To date, magnetic targeting methods have not yet passed regulatory approval or reached clinical use. Below we outline key challenges to magnetic targeting, which include designing and selecting magnetic carriers for specific clinical indications, safely and effectively reaching targets behind tissue and anatomical barriers, real-time carrier imaging, and magnet design and control for deep and precise targeting. Addressing these challenges will require interactions across disciplines. Nanofabricators and chemists should work with biologists, mathematicians and engineers to better understand how carriers move through live tissues and how to optimize carrier and magnet designs to better direct therapy to disease targets. Clinicians should be involved early on and throughout the whole process to ensure the methods that are being developed meet a compelling clinical need and will be practical in a clinical setting. Our hope is that highlighting these challenges will help researchers translate magnetic drug targeting from a novel concept to a clinically-available treatment that can put therapy where it needs to go in human patients.

Formulation, characterization and tissue distribution of a novel pH-sensitive long-circulating liposome-based theranostic suitable for molecular imaging and drug delivery

“…1,2,29 The imaging function requires the labeling of theranostic carriers with radioactive or non-radioactive isotopes on the bilayer surface or through encapsulation. While some prefer the design that shields the imaging elements from the outer biological environment, others appreciate surface chelation for its versatility in the choice of radionuclides and its high labeling efficiency.…”

Mathematical modeling of magnetic field guided colloidal particle deposition with significant electric double layer interactions

“…The biocompatibility and non-toxicity of magnetic colloids has led to their extensive use in the following: targeted drug delivery [1][2][3][4][5][6]; clinical diagnostics as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging [6][7][8][9][10]; tumor therapy by controlled hyperthermia [9][10][11][12]; cytological studies [13][14][15][16][17]; and in catheter embolization of blood vessels [18].…”

Design and development of a magnetic device for mesenchymal stem cell retaining in deep targets

“…Super paramagnetic iron nanoparticles (SPIONs) and magnetic techniques are being used for various applications and play a significant role in the field of drug delivery [1][2][3][4][5][6]. They can be used as a means of carrying a drug or a molecule to a specific site due to their magnetic susceptibility, via the force applied by an external magnetic field, while monitoring their position by magnetic field sensors [7][8][9][10][11].…”