Engineered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for externally controlled hyperthermia, drug delivery, and therapeutic toxicity

Abstract

Nanotechnology and materials science are highly developing sectors where several new materials are investigated. One area includes iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior. Since nanomaterials are prone to be associated with high levels of intrinsic toxicity and can have adverse effects if not properly guided. So, toxic mechanisms associated with nanomaterials are like that of a therapeutic drug or any other toxic compound. In that way, by ignoring the general pathways of cell death followed by the nanomaterials, the present report covers the points to control the growth of cancer cells by employing engineered nanoparticles (NPs) to induce therapeutic toxicity. We discuss the pathways for the induction of toxicity to the cancer cells using the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with and without surface ligands, and the ligand efficiency towards controlling toxicity is covered. Also, the therapeutic means of controlling the cancer cells, such as generating heat and releasing anticancer drugs in an externally organized manner, are also discussed. Overall, the report links the physical properties of SPIONs related to their natural or therapeutical toxicity by connecting physicochemical and toxicology principles.