https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6530-9901
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ABSTRACT
Introduction
In the field of drug delivery, controlling the release of therapeutic substances at localized targets has become a primary focus of medical research, especially in the field of cancer treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles are one of the most promising drug carriers thanks to their biocompatibility and (super)paramagnetic properties. These properties allow for the combination between imaging modalities and specific release of drugs at target sites using either local stimulus (i.e. pH, conjugation of biomarkers, …) or external stimulus (i.e. external magnetic field).
Areas covered
This review provides an update on recent advances with the development of targeted drug delivery systems based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). This overview focuses on active targeting strategies and systems combining both imaging and therapeutic modalities (i.e. theranostics). If most of the examples concern the particular case of cancer therapy, the possibility of using MNPs for other medical applications is also discussed.
Expert opinion
The development of clinically relevant drug delivery systems based on magnetic nanoparticles is driven by advantages stemming from their remarkable properties (i.e. easy preparation, facile chemical functionalization, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and superior magnetic responsiveness). This literature review shows that drug carriers based on magnetic nanoparticles can be efficiently used for the controlled release of drug at targeted locations mediated by various stimuli. Advances in the field should lead to the implementation of such systems into clinical trials, especially systems enabling drug tracking in the body.
Article highlights
Combining therapeutic compound with magnetic nanoparticles is actively explored to provide systems able to precisely deliver compounds at targeted locations while monitoring the drug biodistribution on the body.
The production of sophisticated carriers based on magnetic nanoparticles is facilitated by the refinement of novel technologies enabling their sustained synthesis.
Active targeting strategies, achieved by decorating the carriers with biomarkers (antibodies, peptides, …) or with stimuli-responsive moieties, have been widely developed for various magnetic systems.
Under the action of a localized external magnetic field, drug carriers exhibiting strong magnetic properties (nanoscale clusters, nanoassemblies, such as liposomes, micro- and nanorobots, …) can be efficiently accumulated in targeted sites.
Various therapeutic substances have been loaded onto magnetic carriers for cancer treatment (chemotherapeutic drugs) and treatment of other diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, or viruses.
Therapeutic effect of magnetic nanoparticles themselves can be induced through combination with additional therapies, such as radiation therapy or magnetic hyperthermia.
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
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
List of abbreviations
| AA | = | Ascorbic Acid |
| AICAR | = | 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside |
| AMF | = | Alternating Magnetic Field |
| ART | = | Artemisinin |
| BBB | = | Blood-Brain Barrier |
| BG | = | O6-benzylguanine |
| CAs | = | Contrast agents |
| CT | = | Computed Tomography |
| CTX | = | Chlorotoxin |
| Cur | = | Curcumin |
| DEGMEMA | = | Diethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate |
| DLS | = | Dynamic Light Scattering |
| DTX | = | Docetaxel |
| DNA | = | Deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DOX | = | Doxorubicin |
| EPR | = | Enhanced Permeation and Retention |
| FFR | = | Fast-moving magnetic Field-free Region |
| FUGY | = | Fe3O4@UIO-66-NH2/Graphdiyne |
| GBM | = | Glioblastoma multiform |
| GDY | = | Graphdiyne |
| GO | = | Graphene Oxide |
| HCSVs | = | Hybrid core-shell vesicles |
| HER2 | = | Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 |
| hMSCs | = | Human Mesenchymal Stem cell |
| MF | = | Magnetic Field |
| MG63 | = | Human Osteosarcoma cell line |
| MGMT | = | O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase |
| MGNP | = | Magnetic Gold Nanoparticles |
| MIP | = | Molecularly Imprinted Polymers |
| M(i)RNA | = | Micro-Ribonucleic Acid |
| MNPs | = | Magnetic Nanoparticles |
| MOFs | = | Metal Organic Frameworks |
| MPI | = | Magnetic Particle Imaging |
| MPs | = | Microparticles |
| MRI | = | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MTS | = | Magnetic Seeds |
| MTX | = | Methotrexate |
| NGs | = | Nanogels |
| NIR | = | Near-Infrared optical Imaging |
| NPC | = | Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma cells |
| OEGMEMA | = | Oligoethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate |
| PC | = | Protein Corona |
| PEG | = | Polyethyleneglycol |
| PEGDA | = | Poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate |
| PEI | = | Polyethyleneimine |
| PLGA | = | Poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) |
| PLL | = | Poly(L-lysine) |
| PPBMs | = | Pine Pollen-Based Micromotor |
| PPDA | = | Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) |
| PS | = | Polystyrene |
| PSS | = | Poly(styrene sulfonate) |
| PVA | = | Polyvinyl alcohol |
| PTFE | = | Polytetrafluoroethylene |
| ROS | = | Reactive Oxygen Species |
| RT | = | Radiation Therapy |
| RTC | = | Reticulocytes |
| SMCNC | = | Superparamagnetic magnetite colloidal nanocrystal clusters |
| SPNCD | = | Fe3O4@PLGA-DOX |
| TB | = | Tuberculosis |
| TEM | = | Transmission Electron Microscopy |
| TMZ | = | Temozolomide |