Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
Stimuli-responsive magnetic particles for biomedical applications

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.10.011Get rights and content
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Abstract

In recent years, magnetic nanoparticles have been studied due to their potential applications as magnetic carriers in biomedical area. These materials have been increasingly exploited as efficient delivery vectors, leading to opportunities of use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents, mediators of hyperthermia cancer treatment and in targeted therapies. Much attention has been also focused on “smart” polymers, which are able to respond to environmental changes, such as changes in the temperature and pH. In this context, this article reviews the state-of-the art in stimuli-responsive magnetic systems for biomedical applications. The paper describes different types of stimuli-sensitive systems, mainly temperature- and pH sensitive polymers, the combination of this characteristic with magnetic properties and, finally, it gives an account of their preparation methods. The article also discusses the main in vivo biomedical applications of such materials. A survey of the recent literature on various stimuli-responsive magnetic gels in biomedical applications is also included.

Graphical abstract

An ideal stimuli-responsive magnetic system possibilities the monitoring of the medication in the organism followed by the treatment using local drug delivery or hyperthermia.

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Keywords

Magnetic nanoparticles
Ferrofluid
Smart polymers
N-vinylcaprolactam
Biomedical
Applications

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