Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Disease Detection and Therapy

Applications of magnetotactic bacteria and magnetosome for cancer treatment: A review emphasizing on practical and mechanistic aspects

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (NPs), called magnetosomes, with large sizes leading to a ferrimagnetic behavior and a stable magnetic moment at physiological temperature, a chain structure that prevents NP aggregation and promotes uniform NP distribution, and a mineral core of magnetite/maghemite composition, which can be stabilized by an organic coating. Such properties can favor magnetosome administration to humans under certain optimized non-toxic conditions of fabrication. In this review, I describe the fabrication methods, physico-chemical properties, and the anti-tumor activity of different types of MTB/magnetosome preparations, highlighting the bio-compatibility and excellent anti-tumor activity of purified non-pyrogenic magnetosome minerals stabilized by a synthetic chemical compound.

Recent Advances in Metal Decorated Nanomaterials and Their Various Biological Applications: A Review

Nanoparticles (nanoparticles) have received much attention in biological application because of their unique physicochemical properties. The metal- and metal oxide-supported nanomaterials have shown significant therapeutic effect in medical science. The mechanisms related to the interaction of nanoparticles with animal and plant cells can be used to establish its significant role and to improve their activity in health and medical applications. Various attempts have been made to discuss the antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial activity of metal-supported nanoparticles. Despite all these developments, there is still a need to investigate their performance to overcome modern challenges. In this regard, the present review examines the role of various types of metal-supported nanomaterials in different areas such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and so on. Based on the significant ongoing research and applications, it is expected that metal-supported nanomaterials play an outstanding role not only in medical but also in other important areas.

Iron-oxide minerals in the human tissues

Iron is critically important and highly regulated trace metal in the human body. However, in its free ion form, it is known to be cytotoxic; therefore, it is bound to iron storing protein, ferritin. Ferritin is a key regulator of body iron homeostasis able to form various types of minerals depending on the tissue environment. Each mineral, e.g. magnetite, maghemite, goethite, akaganeite or hematite, present in the ferritin core carry different characteristics possibly affecting cells in the tissue. In specific cases, it can lead to disease development. Widely studied connection with neurodegenerative conditions is widely studied, including Alzheimer disease. Although the exact ferritin structure and its distribution throughout a human body are still not fully known, many studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanisms involved in its regulation and pathogenesis. In this review, we try to summarize the iron uptake into the body. Next, we discuss the known occurrence of ferritin in human tissues. Lastly, we also examine the formation of iron oxides and their involvement in brain functions.

Targeting strategies for superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in cancer therapy

Among various nanoparticles, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been increasingly studied for their excellent superparamagnetism, magnetic heating properties, and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The conjugation of SPIONs with drugs to obtain delivery nanosystems has several advantages including magnetic targeted functionalization, in vivo imaging, magnetic thermotherapy, and combined delivery of anticancer agents. To further increase the targeting efficiency of drugs through a delivery nanosystem based on SPIONs, additional targeting moieties including transferrin, antibodies, aptamers, hyaluronic acid, folate, and targeting peptides are coated onto the surface of SPIONs. Therefore, this review summarizes the latest progresses in the conjugation of targeting molecules and drug delivery nanosystems based on SPIONs, especially focusing on their performances to develop efficient targeted drug delivery systems for tumor therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Some magnetic nanoparticle-based nanocarriers loaded with drugs were evaluated in patients and did not produce convincing results, leading to termination of clinical development in phase II/III. An alternative strategy for drug delivery systems based on SPIONs is the conjugation of these systems with targeting segments such as transferrin, antibodies, aptamers, hyaluronic acid, folate, and targeting peptides. These targeting moieties can be recognized by specific integrin/receptors that are overexpressed specifically on the tumor cell surface, resulting in minimizing dosage and reducing off-target effects. This review focuses on magnetic nanoparticle-based nonviral drug delivery systems with targeting moieties to deliver anticancer drugs, with an aim to provide suggestions on the development of SPIONs through discussion.

Iron oxide nanoparticles as multimodal imaging tools

In medicine, obtaining simply a resolute and accurate image of an organ of interest is a real challenge.