Abstract
Nanotechnology has gained much attention for its potential application in medical science. Iron oxide nanoparticles have demonstrated a promising effect in various biomedical applications. In particular, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are widely applied due to their biocompatibility, high magnetic susceptibility, chemical stability, innocuousness, high saturation magnetisation, and inexpensiveness. Magnetite (Fe3O4) exhibits superparamagnetism as its size shrinks in the single-domain region to around 20 nm, which is an essential property for use in biomedical applications. In this review, the application of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in the biomedical field based on different synthesis approaches and various surface functionalisation materials was discussed. Firstly, a brief introduction on the MNP properties, such as physical, thermal, magnetic, and optical properties, is provided. Considering that the surface chemistry of MNPs plays an important role in the practical implementation of in vitro and in vivo applications, this review then focuses on several predominant synthesis methods and variations in the synthesis parameters of MNPs. The encapsulation of MNPs with organic and inorganic materials is also discussed. Finally, the most common in vivo and in vitro applications in the biomedical world are elucidated. This review aims to deliver concise information to new researchers in this field, guide them in selecting appropriate synthesis techniques for MNPs, and to enhance the surface chemistry of MNPs for their interests.
Highlights
Nanotechnology has become one of the utmost essentials for the sophistication of science because it utilises matter manipulation on a scale where materials portray different and appealing characteristics compared with others in the micro-macro scale
This research is important in biomedical applications because the optical properties of magnetite could be further altered to be used in bioimaging and light-based hyperthermia therapy
magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) could be modified so they could selectively accumulate at the tumour site and induce ‘targeted’ therapy, which conventional approaches could not do
Summary
Nanotechnology has become one of the utmost essentials for the sophistication of science because it utilises matter manipulation on a scale where materials portray different and appealing characteristics compared with others in the micro-macro scale. Magnetic nanoparticles are substantially utilised in bioanalytical techniques and biomedical applications. They encounter less background interference with bio-type specimens, making the magnetic susceptibilities of biotype samples nearly trivial. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were used in most studies due to their biocompatibility, high saturation magnetisation, high magnetic susceptibility, chemical stability, and innocuousness. The MNPs used in the biomedical field are normally smaller than 20 nm, thereby displaying superparamagnetism properties They are highly utilised in this field compared with other magnetic-IONPs (M-IONPs) due to their biocompatible surface chemistry, high magnetisation saturation value, narrowed particle size distribution (
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