<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><bold>Background.</bold> Many different types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles being just a category among them, offer exciting opportunities for technologies at the interfaces between chemistry, physics and biology. Some magnetic nanoparticles have already been utilized in clinical practice as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, their physicochemical properties are constantly being improved upon also for other biological applications, such as magnetically-guided delivery systems for different therapeutics. By exposure of magnetic nanoparticles with attached therapeutics to an external magnetic field with appropriate characteristics, they are concentrated and retained at the preferred site which enables the targeted delivery of therapeutics to the desired spot.</p><p><bold>Conclusions.</bold> The idea of binding chemotherapeutics to magnetic nanoparticles has been around for 30 years, however, no magnetic nanoparticles as delivery systems have yet been approved for clinical practice. Recently, binding of nucleic acids to magnetic nanoparticles has been demonstrated as a successful non-viral transfection method of different cell lines in vitro. With the optimization of this method called magnetofection, it will hopefully become another form of gene delivery for the treatment of cancer.</p></abstract>

Background. Many different types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles being just a category among them, offer exciting opportunities for technologies at the interfaces between chemistry, physics and biology. Some magnetic nanoparticles have already been utilized in clinical practice as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, their physicochemical properties are constantly being improved upon also for other biological applications, such as magnetically-guided delivery systems for different therapeutics. By exposure of magnetic nanoparticles with attached therapeutics to an external magnetic field with appropriate characteristics, they are concentrated and retained at the preferred site which enables the targeted delivery of therapeutics to the desired spot.Conclusions. The idea of binding chemotherapeutics to magnetic nanoparticles has been around for 30 years, however, no magnetic nanoparticles as delivery systems have yet been approved for clinical practice. Recently, binding of nucleic acids to magnetic nanoparticles has been demonstrated as a successful non-viral transfection method of different cell lines in vitro. With the optimization of this method called magnetofection, it will hopefully become another form of gene delivery for the treatment of cancer.

Magnetic nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems in oncology

Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Radiology and Oncology

{"article-title":"Magnetic nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems in oncology"}

Background. Many different types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles being just a category among them, offer exciting opportunities for technologies at...

Magnetic nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems in oncology

Pubblicato online: 19 gen 2011

Pagine: 1 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-011-0001-z

Parole chiave
magnetic nanoparticles, nanotechnology, delivery systems, oncology, magnetofection, cancer therapy, magnetic targeting

This content is open access.

Magnetic nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems in oncology

Pubblicato online: 19 gen 2011

Pagine: 1 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-011-0001-z

Parole chiavemagnetic nanoparticles, nanotechnology, delivery systems, oncology, magnetofection, cancer therapy, magnetic targeting

This content is open access.

Parole chiave
magnetic nanoparticles, nanotechnology, delivery systems, oncology, magnetofection, cancer therapy, magnetic targeting