Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted great attention and become promising candidates in the biomedicine field due to their special physicochemical properties. They are generally divided into metallic and non-metallic magnetic nanoparticles, according to their compositions. Both of the two types have shown practical values in biomedicine applications, such as drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and so on. Research efforts are devoted to the improvement of synthesis strategies to achieve magnetic nanoparticles with controllable morphology, diverse composition, active surface, or multiple functions. Taking high repeatability, programmable operation, precise fluid control, and simple device into account, the microfluidics system can expand the production scale and develop magnetic nanoparticles with desired features. This review will first describe different classifications of promising magnetic nanoparticles, followed by the advancements in microfluidic synthesis and the latest biomedical applications of these magnetic nanoparticles. In addition, the challenges and prospects of magnetic nanoparticles in the biomedical field are also discussed.

Conventional methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles often involve toxic chemicals, exacerbating environmental issues in the context of climate change and water scarcity. Green synthesis using plant extracts offers a sustainable and viable alternative for CoFe2O4 nanoparticle production, but understanding the mechanisms and applications of this method is challenging. Here, we review the synthesis and applications of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles using plant extracts with emphasis on biomedical activity and water treatment. Plant extract-mediated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibit high surface area, small particle size, unique morphology, sufficient band gap energy, and high saturation magnetization. These nanoparticles demonstrate strong antimicrobial and anticancer activities, highlighting their potential in biomedical treatments. Green CoFe2O4 are effective in removing organic dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals from water, promoting cleaner water resources. Challenges such as scalability and reproducibility still remain, but ongoing research aims to optimize synthesis protocols and explore new applications. This work underscores the importance of sustainable nanotechnology in addressing environmental challenges.

Delivering anticancer drugs to the appropriate site within the body poses a critical challenge in cancer treatment with chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin (DOX). Magnetic graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets with generation 1 (G1) amidoamine-dendronized crosslinks were developed by coupling cystamine-functionalized GO nanosheets with Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with primary amine and methyl acrylate. These magnetic GO nanosheets were loaded with DOX to create a dual pH- and redox-responsive delivery system for cancer chemotherapy. The prepared magnetic nanosheets underwent characterization using FTIR, XRD, DLS, VSM, FE-SEM, and TEM. Physical DOX adsorption was evaluated using various isotherms, including Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich. The in-vitro release profiles of DOX from the magnetic nanosheets were studied under different pH conditions, with and without glutathione (GSH), and the drug release data were fitted with various kinetic models. Additionally, an MTT assay was employed to assess the compatibility and antitumor activity of DOX-loaded magnetic nanosheets in the HepG2 cell line. The results showed that the maximum drug loading was 13.1% (w/w) at a drug/carrier ratio of 1. Without GSH addition, the maximum drug release after 10 days was only 17.9% and 24.1% at pH 7.4 and 5.3, respectively. However, in the presence of GSH, the maximum drug release reached 51.7% and 64.8% at pH 7.4 and 5.3, respectively. Finally, the research findings suggest that the magnetic nanosheets exhibited pH- and redox-stimuli drug release, high biocompatibility, and superior antitumor activity compared to free DOX.

Breast cancer, a widespread malignancy affecting women globally, often arises from mutations in estrogen/progesterone receptors. Conventional treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy face limitations such as low efficacy and adverse effects. However, nanotechnology offers promise with its unique attributes like targeted delivery and controlled drug release. Yet, challenges like poor size distribution and environmental concerns exist. Biogenic nanotechnology, using natural materials or living cells, is gaining traction for its safety and efficacy in cancer treatment. Biogenic nanoparticles synthesized from plant extracts offer a sustainable and eco-friendly approach, demonstrating significant toxicity against breast cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. They surpass traditional drugs, providing benefits like biocompatibility and targeted delivery. Thus, this current review summarizes the available knowledge on breast cancer (its types, stages, histopathology, symptoms, etiology and epidemiology) with the importance of using biogenic nanomaterials as a new and improved therapy. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive examination of the challenges and strategies for advancing the industrial utilization of biogenic metal and metal oxide NPs. Additionally; it underscores the potential of plant-mediated synthesis of biogenic NPs as effective therapies for breast cancer, detailing their mechanisms of action, advantages, and areas for further research.

Hyperthermia therapy refers to the elevating of a region in the body for therapeutic purposes. Different techniques have been applied for hyperthermia therapy including laser, microwave, radiofrequency, ultrasonic, and magnetic nanoparticles and the latter have received great attention in recent years. Magnetic hyperthermia in cancer therapy aims to increase the temperature of the body tissue by locally delivering heat from the magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells with the aid of an external alternating magnetic field to kill the cancerous cells or prevent their further growth. This review introduces magnetic hyperthermia with magnetic nanoparticles. It includes the mechanism of the operation and magnetism behind the magnetic hyperthermia phenomenon. Different synthesis methods and surface modification to enhance the biocompatibility, water solubility, and stability of the nanoparticles in physiological environments have been discussed. Recent research on versatile types of magnetic nanoparticles with their ability to increase the local temperature has been addressed.

Various conventional treatments including endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy have been used for several decades to treat breast cancer; however, these therapies exhibit various life-threatening and debilitating adverse effects in patients. Additionally, combination therapies are required for prompt action as well as to prevent drug resistance toward standard breast cancer medications. Ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly gaining momentum for their application in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Spinel ferrites are particularly used against breast cancer and have shown in vitro and in vivo better efficacy as compared to conventional cancer therapies. Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, magnetic particle imaging tracers, cell separation, and immune assays are some aspects related to the diagnosis of breast cancer against which different ferrite NPs have been successfully evaluated. Moreover, citrate-coated nickel ferrite, Mg/Zn ferrites, poly amidoamine dendrimers, cobalt ferrites, graphene oxide cobalt ferrites, doxorubicin functionalized cobalt ferrites, chitosan-coated zinc ferrites, PEG-coated cobalt ferrite, and copper ferrite NPs have demonstrated antiproliferative action against different breast cancer cells. Oxaliplatin-loaded polydopamine/BSA-copper ferrites, functionalized cobalt and zinc ferrites of curcumin, oxaliplatin-copper ferrite NPs, tamoxifen/diosgenin encapsulated ZnO/Mn ferrites, and fabricated core-shell fibers of doxorubicin have been developed to increase the bioavailability and anti-proliferative effect and decrease the toxicity of anticancer drugs. These ferrite NPs showed an anticancer effect at different doses in the presence or absence of an external magnetic field. The present review covers the in-depth investigations of ferrite NPs for the diagnosis and management of breast cancer.

A novel strategy was designed and developed based of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mediated crosslinking of tyramine-functionalized starch (Tyr-St), tannic acid (TA) and phenolated-magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-PhOH NPs), and simultaneous loading of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) to afford a pH-responsive magnetic hydrogel-based drug delivery system (DDS) for synergistic in vitro chemo/hyperthermia therapy of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 magnetic hydrogel showed porous micro-structure with saturation magnetization (δs) value of 19.2 emu g-1 for Fe3O4 NPs content of ∼7.4 wt%. The pore sizes of the St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 hydrogel was calculated to be 2400 ± 200 nm-2. In vitro drug release experiments exhibited the developed DDS has pH-dependent drug release behavior, while at physiological pH (7.4) released only 30 % of the loaded drug after 100 h. Human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption capacities of the synthesized St/Fe3O4 and St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 magnetic hydrogels were obtained as 86 ± 2.2 and 77 ± 1.9 μgmg-1, respectively. The well-known MTT-assay approved the cytocompatibility of the developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 hydrogel, while the Dox-loaded system exhibited higher anti-cancer activity than those of the free Dox as verified by MTT-assay, and optical as well as florescent microscopies imaging. The synergistic chemo/hyperthermia therapy effect was also verified for the developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4-Dox via hot water approach.

Chemotherapy is the most prominent route in cancer therapy for prolonging the lifespan of cancer patients. However, its non-target specificity and the resulting off-target cytotoxicities have been reported. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies using magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) for magnetothermal chemotherapy may potentially improve the therapeutic outcome by increasing the target selectivity. In this review, magnetic hyperthermia therapy and magnetic targeting using drug-loaded MNCs are revisited, focusing on magnetism, the fabrication and structures of magnetic nanoparticles, surface modifications, biocompatible coating, shape, size, and other important physicochemical properties of MNCs, along with the parameters of the hyperthermia therapy and external magnetic field. Due to the limited drug-loading capacity and low biocompatibility, the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as drug delivery system has lost traction. In contrast, MNCs show higher biocompatibility, multifunctional physicochemical properties, high drug encapsulation, and multi-stages of controlled release for localized synergistic chemo-thermotherapy. Further, combining various forms of magnetic cores and pH-sensitive coating agents can generate a more robust pH, magneto, and thermo-responsive drug delivery system. Thus, MNCs are ideal candidate as smart and remotely guided drug delivery system due to a) their magneto effects and guide-ability by the external magnetic fields, b) on-demand drug release performance, and c) thermo-chemosensitization under an applied alternating magnetic field where the tumor is selectively incinerated without harming surrounding non-tumor tissues. Given the important effects of synthesis methods, surface modifications, and coating of MNCs on their anticancer properties, we reviewed the most recent studies on magnetic hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery systems in cancer therapy, and magnetothermal chemotherapy to provide insights on the current development of MNC-based anticancer nanocarrier.

Osteosarcoma remains a worldwide concern due to the poor effectiveness of available therapies in the clinic. Therefore, it is necessary to find a safe and effective therapy to realize the complete resection of osteosarcoma and reconstruction of the bone defect. Magnetic hyperthermia based on magnetic nanoparticles can kill tumor cells by raising the temperature without causing the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. This research aims to design a high-performance magnetic hydrogel composed of gelatin methacrylate and highly magnetic cobalt ferrite (CFO) nanoparticles for osteosarcoma treatment. Specifically, CFO is surface functionalized with methacrylate groups (MeCFO). The surface modified CFO has good biocompatibility and stable solution dispersion ability. Afterward, MeCFO nanoparticles are incorporated into GelMA to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) printable MeCFO/GelMA magnetic hydrogel and then photocross-linked by UV radiation. MeCFO/GelMA hydrogel has high porosity and swelling ability, indicating that the hydrogel possesses more space and good hydrophily for cell survival. The rheological results showed that the hydrogel has shear thinning property, which is suitable as a bioprinting ink to produce desired structures by a 3D printer. Furthermore, 50 μg/mL MeCFO not only decreases the cell activity of osteosarcoma cells but also promotes the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs. The results of the CCK-8 assay and live/dead staining showed that MeCFO/GelMA hydrogel had good cytocompatibility. These results indicated that MeCFO/GelMA hydrogel with potential antitumor and bone reconstruction functions is a promising therapeutic strategy after osteosarcoma resection.

The realization of MRI contrast agents through chemical protocols of functionalization is a strong domain of research. In this work, we developed and formulated a novel hybrid gold nanoparticle system in which a gold salt (HAuCl4) is combined with dotarem, an MRI contrast agent (DOTA) by chelation (Method IN) and stabilized by a lactose-modified chitosan polymer (CTL; Chitlac) to form DOTA IN-CTL AuNPs.

The authors demonstrate the biological efficiency of these nanoparticles in the case of three cell lines: Mia PaCa-2 (human pancreatic cancer cell line), TIB-75 (murine liver cell line) and KKU-M213 (cholangiocarcinoma cell line). DOTA IN-CTL AuNPs are stable under physiological conditions, are nontoxic, and are very efficient as PTT agents. The highlights, such as high stability and preliminary MRI in vitro and in vivo models, may be suitable for diagnosis and therapy.

We proved that DOTA IN-CTL AuNPs have several advantages: i) Biological efficacy on three cell lines: MIA PaCa-2 (human pancreatic cancer cell line), TIB-75 (murine liver cell line) and KKU-M213 (cholangiocarcinoma cell line); ii) high stability, and no-toxicity; iii) high efficiency as a PPT agent. The study conducted on MRI in vitro and in vivo models will be suitable for diagnosis and therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted increasing interest as a complementary method to be used alongside conventional therapies. Despite a great number of studies in this field, only a few have explored how temperatures affect the outcome of the PTT at nanoscale. In this work, we study the necrosis/apoptosis process of cancerous cells that occurs during PTT, using a combination of local laser heating and nanoscale fluorescence thermometry techniques. The temperature distribution within a whole cell was evaluated using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy during laser-induced hyperthermia. For this, gold nanorods were utilized as nanoheaters. The local near-infrared laser illumination produces a temperature gradient across the cells, which is precisely measured by nanoscale thermometry. This allows one to optimize the PTT conditions by varying concentration of gold nanorods associated with cells and laser power density. During the PTT procedure, such an approach enables an accurate determination of the percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells using 2D and 3D models. According to the performed cell experiments, the influence of temperature increase during the PTT on cell death mechanisms has been verified and determined. Our investigations can improve the understanding of the PTT mechanisms and increase its therapeutic efficiency while avoiding any side effects.

Breast cancer (BC) is the deadliest malignant disorder globally, with a significant mortality rate. The development of tolerance throughout cancer treatment and non-specific targeting limits the drug's response. Currently, nano therapy provides an interdisciplinary area for imaging, diagnosis, and targeted drug delivery for BC. Several overexpressed biomarkers, proteins, and receptors are identified in BC, which can be potentially targeted by using nanomaterial for drug/gene/immune/photo-responsive therapy and bio-imaging. In recent applications, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have shown tremendous attention to the researcher because they combine selective drug delivery and imaging functionalities. IONs can be efficaciously functionalised for potential application in BC therapy and diagnosis. In this review, we explored the current application of IONs in chemotherapeutics delivery, gene delivery, immunotherapy, photo-responsive therapy, and bio-imaging for BC based on their molecular mechanism. In addition, we also highlighted the effect of IONs' size, shape, dimension, and functionalization on BC targeting and imaging. To better comprehend the functionalization potential of IONs, this paper provides an outline of BC cellular development. IONs for BC theranostic are also reviewed based on their clinical significance and future aspects.

To improve bovine corneal endothelial cell (BCEC) migration, enhance cell energy, and facilitate symmetric cell distribution in corneal surfaces, an electromagnet device was fabricated. Twenty nanometer superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with fourth-generation dendrimer macromolecules were synthesized, and their size and structure were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results confirmed the configuration of the dendrimer on the SPION surfaces. In vitro biocompatibility was assessed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. No significant toxicity was noted on BCECs within 24 h of incubation. In the cell migration assay, cells treated with dendrimer-coated SPIONs exhibited a relatively high wound healing rate under sample addition (1 μg/mL) under a magnetic field. Real-time PCR on BCECs treated with dendrimer-coated SPIONs revealed upregulation of specific genes, including AT1P1 and NCAM1, for BCECs-dendrimer-coated SPIONs under a magnetic field. The three-dimensional dispersion of BCECs containing dendrimer-coated SPIONs under a magnetic field was evaluated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results revealed the BCECs-SPION vortex pattern layers in the corneal surface corresponded to the electromagnet's displacement from the ocular surface. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that dendrimer-coated SPIONs can be used as a T2 contrast agent.