Recent advances in iron oxide nanoparticles for brain cancer theranostics: from in vitro to clinical applications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Today, the development of multifunctional nanoplatforms is more seriously considered in the field of cancer theranostics.

Areas covered: In this respect, nanoparticles provide several advantages over the routine, conventional diagnostic methods, and treatments. Due to the expedient properties of iron oxide nanoparticles, such as being readily modified, great payload potential, intrinsic magnetic qualification, considerable biocompatibility, and overwhelming response to targeting strategies, these nanoparticles can be considered good candidates for application as diagnostic contrast agents and drug/gene delivery vehicles, while also being incorporated into hyperthermia-based approaches. Interestingly, these agents are detectable with routine imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging.

Expert opinion: Therefore, combining the traditional diagnostics and therapies with nanotechnological approaches may leave a positive impact on the survival rate of patients with cancer. This review summarizes the application of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in both in vitro and in vivo models of brain tumors.

KEYWORDS:

• Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs)
• brain tumor
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• diagnostic
• therapeutic

Article highlights

• Today, nanotechnology is recognized as an expansive discipline, that assimilates various pertinent fields, e.g. cancer research, into an extensive network. Accordingly, the area of cancer theranostics can greatly benefit from multifunctional nanoplatforms, due to their advantages over the more conventional approaches.

• Due to their great biocompatibility, easy modification, high payload potential, intrinsic magnetic qualification, and promising performance in passive and active targeting approaches, iron oxide nanoparticles have become an area of interest in research programs. Hence, these nanoparticles could be serious candidates for application as diagnostic contrast agents, and vehicles in drug/gene delivery platforms.

• A highly versatile and accurate diagnostic technique in both research and clinical areas, MRI can be augmented by such contrast agents and drug/gene delivery vehicles, providing a more thorough performance at detecting small tumors, and monitoring the delivery of anticancer complexes.

• A novel technique with minimal invasiveness, molecular imaging provides real-time quantitative assessment of tissues in the living body. Thus, it could be a game-changing modality for timely diagnosis of malignancies, staging of tumors, and evaluation of response to treatment.

• Recently developed nanotechnological approaches, particularly molecular imaging, are highly likely to have a positive effect on the survival rate of patients diagnosed with cancer.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

This review was conducted under supervision of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

A reviewer on this manuscript has declared that they have received research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is a co-owner for Accelerating Combination Therapies (includes equity or options). Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.