Potential Toxicity of Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Review

Abstract

<jats:p>The noteworthy intensification in the development of nanotechnology has led to the development of various types of nanoparticles. The diverse applications of these nanoparticles make them desirable candidate for areas such as drug delivery, coasmetics, medicine, electronics, and contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and so on. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are a branch of nanoparticles which is specifically being considered as a contrast agent for MRI as well as targeted drug delivery vehicles, angiogenic therapy and chemotherapy as small size gives them advantage to travel intravascular or intracavity actively for drug delivery. Besides the mentioned advantages, the toxicity of the iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles is still less explored. For in vivo applications magnetic nanoparticles should be nontoxic and compatible with the body fluids. These particles tend to degrade in the body hence there is a need to understand the toxicity of the particles as whole and degraded products interacting within the body. Some nanoparticles have demonstrated toxic effects such inflammation, ulceration, and decreases in growth rate, decline in viability and triggering of neurobehavioral alterations in plants and cell lines as well as in animal models. The cause of nanoparticles’ toxicity is attributed to their specific characteristics of great surface to volume ratio, chemical composition, size, and dosage, retention in body, immunogenicity, organ specific toxicity, breakdown and elimination from the body. In the current review paper, we aim to sum up the current knowledge on the toxic effects of different magnetic nanoparticles on cell lines, marine organisms and rodents. We believe that the comprehensive data can provide significant study parameters and recent developments in the field. Thereafter, collecting profound knowledge on the background of the subject matter, will contribute to drive research in this field in a new sustainable direction.</jats:p>

Dental Adhesive Interfaces Reinforced with Magnetic Nanoparticles: Evaluation and Modeling with Micro-CT versus Optical Microscopy

“…Magnetite has been the material of choice for the MPs manufactured for this study (and in general for the dental materials applications considered in our group) because of its ferromagnetic properties, high stability, easy preparation process to a certain size, good shape and porosity and no swelling variations. They also have a low toxicity that makes them suitable for biomedical materials [31,35].…”

“…Regarding the first aim above, magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) manufactured in the laboratory are inserted in the adhesive, which is prepared with different procedures to optimize the adhesive distribution in the interface. Nanoparticles [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], including MPs are largely used in medicine [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. To our knowledge, we proposed using MPs for the first time in a series of preliminary studies [ 36 , 37 , 38 ] with the scope of obtaining a tighter connection between the composite material and the dental surface [ 39 , 40 ], compared with a conventional treatment.…”

Plant-Derived Natural Products in Cancer Research: Extraction, Mechanism of Action, and Drug Formulation

“…In vivo and in vitro studies on the safety of uncoated iron oxide NPs displayed cytotoxicity in erythrocytes [713] and neurobehavioral toxicity at 10 ppm [714]. However, another study did not indicate any inherent toxicity for uncoated iron oxide NPs [702].…”

“…Owing to their features of low toxicity and excellent physiochemical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) especially iron oxide nanoparticles have become a powerful platform in many aspects of biomedicine [702]. However, their widespread biomedical applications posed serious concerns about their safety.…”

“…To enhance the stability of iron-based NPs, coating with other materials such as polymers and noble materials (gold and silver) can provide them with better stability, sustainability and mechanical strength [702].…”