Highly mesoporus spherical three dimensional (3D) ZnO nanoassemblies have been fabricated by a simple, facile soft-chemical approach. It has been observed that the mesoporous (average pore diameter of 28 nm) nanoscale assembly comprised of numerous nanocrystals of average size ∼20 nm is fairly stable, well-defined and discrete, with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The drug-loading efficiency of the nanoassemblies was investigated using doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as a model drug to evaluate their potential as a carrier system. The quenching of the fluorescence intensity as well as the change in band positions and spectra shapes strongly suggest the interaction of drug molecules with ZnO. More specifically, the present investigation discusses a method for entrapping drugs at sites capable of complexing with transition metal ions and suggests that drug release is dependent on the pH of the medium and externally applied ultrasound (continuous or pulsatile), as well as the nature of the materials which encapsulate the drug. In addition, nanoassemblies are biocompatible with HeLa cells and do not have toxic effects for further in vivo use. Specifically, a new paradigm for precise control of targeted, on-demand drug delivery using ultrasound irradiation is demonstrated.

The discipline of neurotheranostics was forged to improve diagnostic and therapeutic clinical outcomes for neurological disorders. Research was facilitated, in largest measure, by the creation of pharmacologically effective multimodal pharmaceutical formulations. Deployment of neurotheranostic agents could revolutionize staging and improve nervous system disease therapeutic outcomes. However, obstacles in formulation design, drug loading and payload delivery still remain. These will certainly be aided by multidisciplinary basic research and clinical teams with pharmacology, nanotechnology, neuroscience and pharmaceutic expertise. When successful the end results will provide "optimal" therapeutic delivery platforms. The current report reviews an extensive body of knowledge of the natural history, epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutics of neurologic disease with an eye on how, when and under what circumstances neurotheranostics will soon be used as personalized medicines for a broad range of neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and neuroinfectious diseases.

A novel arginine-based dendritic block is grown on the surface of APTS-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles by conventional growth approach of Michael addition/amidation reactions. The thus-obtained dendritic magnetite nanocarriers (DMNCs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), vibrating sample magnetometry(VSM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The functionalization of MNPs with the dendritic block was evident from FTIR and TGA analyses. The nanocarriers had an average size of 10 nm and exhibited superparamagnetism with high magnetization values at room temperature. The aqueous colloidal suspension of DMNCs (10 mg ml⁻¹ of Fe) showed a temperature rise up to 43 °C in 5 min and yielded a moderate specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 30 W g⁻¹ of magnetite under the influence of AC magnetic field of 10 kA m⁻¹ and 425 kHz frequency. Biocompatibility of the developed nanocarriers was evaluated in vitro by assessing their cytotoxicity on human cervical cancer cells (HeLA cells) using a sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Encapsulation and release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was investigated. The change in surface charge, as evident from zeta potential analyzer and quenching of fluorescence intensity, strongly suggests the interaction of DOX with the DMNCs. The nanocarriers showed good capacity to encapsulate DOX, with loading as high as 65% (w/w) and a pH-responsive sustained release of 54% at pH 5.0. Also, the release of DOX from the nanocarriers increased up to 80% on application of an AC magnetic field.

Combining layered double hydroxides with Fe ₃ O ₄ nanoparticles resulted in the desired “cut-off switch” for threshold temperature towards magnetic hyperthermia.