Chapter 9 - Iron oxide nanomaterials for functional imaging

Abstract

Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles exhibit excellent properties, including high surface area, facile surface modification, controllable size, and excellent magnetic properties, making them promising candidates for cancer theranostics (diagnosis and treatment). Moreover, various covalent and noncovalent approaches have been proposed for the functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles with amine, carboxyl, hydroxyl epoxy, thiol, alkane, azide, and alkyne groups, enlarging the field of their applications, as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, targeted drug and other bioactive molecules delivery, magnetic separation and immobilization of proteins, enzymes, antibodies, targeting agents and other biosubstances, biocatalysis, and green chemistry. Responsive polymeric assemblies and hybrid superstructures can be synthesized from stimuli-sensitive polymers and inorganic iron oxide nanoparticles exhibiting many advantages such as improved water solubility and biocompatibility, stimuli-responsiveness, and facile functionalization. This chapter gives an overview of the current solutions offered by nanotechnology and magnetic nanoparticles for the improvement of cancer imaging and theranostics platforms.