Stimuli‐Responsive Iron Oxide Nanotheranostics: A Versatile and Powerful Approach for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Recent advancements in unravelling elements of cancer biology involved in disease progression and treatment resistance have highlighted the need for a holistic approach to effectively tackle cancer. Stimuli‐responsive nanotheranostics based on iron oxide nanoparticles are an emerging class of versatile nanomedicines with powerful capabilities to “seek, sense, and attack” multiple components of solid tumors. In this work, the rationale for using iron oxide nanoparticles and the basic physical principles that impact their function in biomedical applications are reviewed. Subsequently, recent advances in the integration of iron oxide nanoparticles with various stimulus mechanisms to facilitate the development of stimuli‐responsive nanotheranostics for application in cancer therapy are summarized. The integration of an iron oxide core with various surface coating mechanisms results in the generation of hybrid nanoconstructs with capabilities to codeliver a wide variety of highly potent anticancer therapeutics and immune modulators. Finally, emerging future directions and considerations for their clinical translation are touched upon.

Effects of Local Administration of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Prefrontal Cortex, Striatum, and Hippocampus of Rats

“…During the last decade, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) became increasingly useful for biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility, magnetic properties, and stability (Xie et al 2018). Moreover, IONPs are used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for cell tracking and for the treatment of brain tumors via magnetic hyperthermia (Bulte and Kraitchman 2004;Maier-Hauff et al 2011;White et al 2015;Marekova et al 2020;Lorkowski et al 2021). However, the risk of IONP treatment for human health especially for brain function is still not fully clarified.…”

Hyperthermia-mediated changes in the tumor immune microenvironment using iron oxide nanoparticles

“…1,2 In particular, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been extensively investigated for tumor hyperthermia in preclinical and clinical studies. [3][4][5][6] In the presence of an external alternating magnetic eld (AMF), IONPs convert electromagnetic energy into thermal energy (heat), a phenomenon known as magnetic hyperthermia. On its effort to reorient its magnetic moment to the external eld (Néel relaxation), IONPs need to overcome an energy barrier resulting in the production of heat due to hysteresis or relaxational losses.…”

Nanoparticles in Clinical Translation for Cancer Therapy

“…However, the dominance of platinum-based drugs was diminished during later years as a spectrum of challenges emerged from the use of platinum and platinum-based drugs in clinical use. This prompted the emergence of other nanocomplexes with cytotoxicity in cancer therapy (like ruthenium [89], gold [90], silver [91], selenium [92], and iron [93]). More and more metal complexes are being studied for antitumor effects based on the success of metalbased nanodrugs.…”