Background: Despite medicinal advances, cancer is still a big problem requiring better diagnostic and treatment tools. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-based nanosystems for multiple-purpose application... Plain language summary In this study, the authors designed and fabricated novel magnetic trifunctional nanoparticles of Fe3O4@PLA-PEG. The 8.5 nm Fe3O4 core was covered with the polymeric matrix of... Graphical abstract

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles have been investigated for decades due to their potential biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized, characterized and biologically tested multifunctional Fe₃O₄-based drug delivery systems for such an application. The nanosystems were successfully prepared with a small size, high saturation magnetization and high drug loading. The Fe₃O₄ core in an alternating magnetic field could generate enough heat for both effective hyperthermia therapy and doxorubicin release from the alginate shell for chemotherapy. Also, a folate factor was attached to the nanoparticles to help the system to enter and stay in the tumor cells for a longer time. In vivo experiments showed that the combined treatment was very helpful for the survival of lung cancer-bearing mice, especially in the case of the presence of a folate factor.

Inhibition effect of engineered silver nanoparticles to bloom forming cyanobacteria View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more 2016 Adv. Nat. Sci: Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 7 035018