Biomedical applications of iron oxide nanostructures

Abstract

Iron oxide nanostructures including nanoparticles and nanorods have been widely used for numerous in vivo and vitro applications such as magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement, tissue repair and drug delivery. All these biomedical and bioengineering applications require that these nanostructures have high magnetisation values and size smaller then 100 nm with overall narrow particle size distribution. In addition, these applications need that the nanostructures have to be not only biocompatible but also non-toxic. To this end, the authors present a versatile approach for the synthesis of iron oxide nanostructures without organics/amines. Pure water is used as a solvent. The authors' simple and straightforward approach will enhance and improve the biomedical applications of these nanostructures. The method is absolutely new, cheap, environmentally benign and bio-friendly, which will make it suitable for large scale production.