Imaging and therapy with radionuclide labeled magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles offer exciting new opportunities including the improvement of the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermic treatment for malignant cells, site-specific drug delivery and also the recent research interest of manipulating cell membranes. The biological applications of these nanomaterials require these nanoparticles to have high magnetization values, size smaller than 20 nm, narrow particle size distribution and a special surface coating for both avoiding toxicity and allowing the coupling of biomolecules. In this review, we focus on the feasibility of radionuclide labeled magnetic nanoparticles, as drug carriers, and summarize recent advances in this field.