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