BCMaterials Fortnightly Seminars #20

“Enhanced magnetic nanostructures for biomedical applications” 

Javier Alonso

(BCMaterials)

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are of great interest for a wide variety of applications, ranging from magnetic recording and data storage to biomedical engineering. Due to their small and controllable sizes (5–100 nm), the MNPs can easily interact with biologically interesting entities. Since iron-based MNPs (maghemite or magnetite) possess highest biocompatibility and colloidal stability, they are most widely used in nanomedicine as compared to other more ‘toxic’ transition metals. However, these nanoparticles possess relatively low saturation magnetization, they also exhibit only a moderate heating in hyperthermia, etc. All these limitations restrict the clinical realization of Fe-oxide nanoparticles in nanomedicine. In our group, we have investigated several innovative strategies to overcome the limitations of Fe-oxide nanoparticles. To increase the saturation magnetization, core/shell structures with a metallic core (higher MS) and biocompatible shell (Fe-oxide, Au, SiO2) have been proposed. To enhance drug delivery properties, hollow nanoparticles are attractive candidates for potential drug encapsulation. In addition, MNPs with tunable shapes and aspect ratios (cubes, rods, etc. ) have been proved to be very promising for improved biomedical applications.

“Report from recent conferences: TMS- Orlando, ZING Bionanomaterials & INTERMAG” 

J. M. Barandiarán

(BCMaterials)