We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article:
Sahar Jahangiri & Abolfazl Akbarzadeh (2016) Preparation and in vitro evaluation of Methotrexate-loaded magnetic nanoparticles modified with biocompatible copolymers. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 44(7), 1733–1740, DOI: 10.3109/21691401.2015.1090443
Since publication, a reader alerted the Publisher that Figures 4, 6 and 11 had been previously published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology and other journals, specifically:
Figures 4 and 11 appears to have been duplicated with Figures 3 and 7, respectively, from Ebrahimi et al., 2014 (https://doi.org/10.3109/21691401.2014.968822).
Figures 6 and 11 appears to have been duplicated with Figures 8 and 11, respectively, from Akbarzadeh et al., 2011 (https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S24326).
Figure 6 appears to have been duplicated with Figure 7 from Akbarzadeh et al., 2011 (https://doi.org/10.2147/NSA.S24328).
Figure 11 appears to have been duplicated with Figure 6 from Ebrahimi et al., 2014 (https://doi.org/10.3109/21691401.2014.944646).
The reused images have been described as originating from a new study with no reference to the previous studies. We contacted the authors, and they acknowledged the similarities in the data published. As this error directly impacts the reported results and conclusions, the Editor and Publisher have agreed to retract the article to ensure correction of the scholarly record. The corresponding author has been informed.
We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions.
The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted’.