Recent Advancements of Magnetic Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Magnetic nanomaterials belong to a class of highly-functionalizable tools for cancer therapy owing to their intrinsic magnetic properties and multifunctional design that provides a multimodal theranostics platform for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. In this review article, we have provided an overview of the various applications of magnetic nanomaterials and recent advances in the development of these nanomaterials as cancer therapeutics. Moreover, the cancer targeting, potential toxicity, and degradability of these nanomaterials has been briefly addressed. Finally, the challenges for clinical translation and the future scope of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer therapy are discussed.

Photo‐ and Magnetothermally Responsive Nanomaterials for Therapy, Controlled Drug Delivery and Imaging Applications

“…Materials with large heating power generation per particle unit mass are widely used for hyperthermia. Although several iron oxide based NPs including MFe 2 O 4 (M= Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mg etc), [98] Prussian blue, and Gadolinium [114] and LSMO (Lanthanum strontium manganite) have shown great potential in hyperthermia functionalization, [55b] but still nanometre size (10–100 nm) ferrite nanoparticles (MIONs) [98] and superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPION) are widely being used for magnetic hyperthermia [55b] . Magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), maghemite (γ‐Fe 2 O 3 ), Fe 3 O 4 and γ‐Fe 2 O 3 are commonly used as MIONs [97] due to their low toxicity and strong MRI contrast properties.…”

“…The shape of the nanoparticle has an important effect on the heating performance. For example, hollow rod morphologies is used for drug delivery, nano cube morphologies is used for guided chemo‐photothermal therapy and spherical NPs has shown a promising bio application such as in cancer therapeutics [114] as well as targeted drug delivery, bioseparations and biosensing, tissue engineering and in the field of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging [114] . High aspect ratio nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and filament‐shaped polymer micelles are likely to interact with biological entities in completely different ways than their spherical counterparts and that's because the large surface area of these nanostructures offers the possibility of multivalent interactions between targeting ligands and receptors, thus facilitating cell internalization.…”

“…While core plays an important role in manufacturing the nano particles, colloidal stability and cytotoxicity need to be considered in addition to target specifity as well. The MNP surface coating and functionalization enhances colloidal stability, allows for covalent or electrostatic binding of therapeutic cargo, targeting moieties, and additional imaging probes, as well as play an important role in tuning MNPs properties such as pharmacokinetics, systemic toxicity and clearance rate, nonspecific protein adsorption or cell interactions, and sustained drug release, among others [114] . Regardless of the composition, magnetic nanoparticles may often be coated with a polymer or silica shell or treated with surfactants to aid in dispersive stability.…”

“…These obstacles include NP opsonization and clearance by the MPS, nonspecific distribution, cellular internalization, endosomal escape, and drug efflux pumps. Proper surface coating strategies are required to limit the MNPs aggregation and generating ROS (Reactive oxygen species) subsequently causing toxicity [114] . Therefore, we are confident that the field will continue its growth in the coming decades and the quest for new, exciting applications of high aspect ratio nanomaterials in biomedicine will follow.…”

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Essential Oils: A New Tool for Biological Applications

“…Iron, cobalt, and nickel, generally under alloys (e.g., FeCo, FePt, CoPt, and FePd), oxides (e.g., Fe 3 O 4 , Fe 2 O 3 , and MnO), and ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe 2 O 4 , NiFe 2 O 4 , and ZnFe 2 O 4 ) or composites (e.g., Fe 3 O 4 –linoleic acid) have been reported for diverse applications [ 106 , 107 ], although Fe 3 O 4 and γFe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are the mostly utilized iron oxide nanoparticles because of their superparamagnetism, biocompatibility, and lower toxicity [ 108 , 109 ]. The superparamagnetic characteristic of these nanoparticles means that in the absence of an external magnetic field, they lose magnetic momentum, becoming non-magnetic, but a mean magnetic momentum appears if an external field is applied.…”