Synthesis and bio-functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles for medical diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

The synthesis of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) is a highly active area of current research located at the interface between materials science, biotechnology and medicine. By virtue of their unique physical properties magnetic nanoparticles are emerging as a new class of diagnostic probes for multimodal tracking and as contrast agents for MRI. Furthermore, they show great potential as carriers for targeted drug and gene delivery, since reactive agents, such as drug molecules or large biomolecules (including genes and antibodies), can easily be attached to their surface. On the other hand, the fate of the nanoparticles inside the body is mainly determined by the interactions with its local environment. These interactions strongly depend upon the size of the magnetic NPs but also on the individual surface characteristics, like charge, morphology and surface chemistry. This review not only summarizes the most common synthetic approaches for the generation of magnetic NPs, it also focuses on different surface modification strategies that are used today to enhance the biocompatibility of these NPs. Finally, key considerations for the application of magnetic NPs in biomedicine, as well as various examples for the utilization in multimodal imaging and targeted gene delivery are presented.

Convenient synthesis of heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) suitable for the functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

“…28 In addition, the amino or azido end groups can be coupled to biomolecules though peptide type coupling or copper-catalyzed [3+2] cycloadditions (click reactions). Other anchoring moieties such as carboxylates, phosphonates and catechol ligands, in particular dopamine-based derivatives, have been conjugated to nanoparticulate iron oxides 29 to increase long-term colloidal stability in biological medium 30 and to display multifunctional surfaces. 31 Nevertheless, Fe(III)-mediated oxidation of catechol ligands might induce loss of colloidal stability and produce cytotoxic iron-quinone complexes.…”

Large scale production of biocompatible magnetite nanocrystals with high saturation magnetization values through green aqueous synthesis

“…3,15,16 Nowadays, different techniques to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles with a size between 5 and 100 nm have been developed. There are physical (gas-phase deposition and electron beam lithography), wet chemical (sol-gel, oxidation, chemical co-precipitation, hydrothermal reactions, thermal decomposition of organic compounds, etc.)…”

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Microwave Assisted Sol-Gel Synthesized La0.9Sr0.1MnO3Eshraghi1, Kameli2 2014ISRN Nanotechnology2010View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…Δ = ( = 1000 Hz) − ( = 33 Hz) and is the mean value of blocking/freezing temperature in the range of experimental frequencies and 0 is the characteristic temperature of the Vogel-Fulcher law, (2). The value of 1 , which is independent of any model, represents the relative shift of blocking temperature per decade of frequency.…”

“…Magnetic nanoparticles are currently the subject of intense research because of their potential applications in high density magnetic storage and biomedical applications [1][2][3]. The perovskite manganite with the formula La 1− A MnO 3 (A = Sr, Ca, Ba, or vacancies) has attracted considerable attention due to the discovery of the phenomenon of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) and its potential application [4][5][6][7].…”