Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) are of great interest in biomedicine, due to their wide range of applications. During recent years, one of the most challenging goals is the development of new strategies to finely tune the unique properties of MNPs, in order to improve their effectiveness in the biomedical field. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the methods of synthesis and functionalization of MNPs focusing on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs). Firstly, synthesis strategies for fabricating IONPs of different composition, sizes, shapes, and structures are outlined. We describe the close link between physicochemical properties and magnetic characterization, essential to developing innovative and powerful magnetic-driven nanocarriers. In conclusion, we provide a complete background of IONPs functionalization, safety, and applications for the treatment of Central Nervous System disorders.

Objectives: To investigate three‐dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound indices in the assessment of placental perfusion and their relationship to gestational age (GA), placental position and umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveform (FVW) patterns in normal and intrauterine growth‐restricted (IUGR) pregnancies.Methods: Forty‐five pregnant women at 23–37 weeks' gestation were studied, of whom 30 had IUGR and 15 were controls. Nine of the IUGR group had normal umbilical FVWs (NED), nine had abnormal patterns but positive end‐diastolic velocities (PED) and 12 had absent or reversed end‐diastolic velocities (AED). Placental position was assessed as being posterior, anterior or lateral. 3D power Doppler indices related to placental perfusion (vascularization index (VI), vascularization flow index (VFI) and flow index (FI)) were obtained from five different sampling sites in each placenta.Results: VI, VFI and FI were not significantly dependent on GA or placental position. VI and VFI were significantly lower in PED and AED cases compared with controls, while FI was reduced in the AED group only. VI and VFI showed high variability between different sampling sites within each placenta, while the variability of FI was much lower.Conclusions: 3D power Doppler sonography can provide new insights into placental pathophysiology. FI, which identifies the most severe cases of placental impairment, appears to be the most reliable index because of its low intraplacental variability. Further studies are needed to verify its accuracy when applied in clinical practice as a substitute for or an adjunct to umbilical artery Doppler studies. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dextran nanobubbles were prepared with a dextran shell and a perfluoropentan core in which oxygen was stored. To increase the stability polyvinylpirrolidone was also added to the formulation as stabilizing agent. Rhodamine B was used as fluorescent marker to obtain fluorescent nanobubbles. The nanobubble formulations showed sizes of about 500nm, a negative surface charge and a good capacity of loading oxygen, no hemolytic activity or toxic effect on cell lines. The fluorescent labelled nanobubbles could be internalized in Vero cells. Oxygen-filled nanobubbles were able to release oxygen in different hypoxic solutions at different time after their preparation in in vitro experiments. The oxygen release kinetics could be enhanced after nanobubble insonation with ultrasound at 2.5MHz. The oxygen-filled nanobubble formulations might be proposed for therapeutic applications in various diseases.

A classification in universality classes of broad categories of phenomenologies, belonging to physics and other disciplines, may be very useful for a cross fertilization among them and for the purpose of pattern recognition and interpretation of experimental data. We present here a simple scheme for the classification of nonlinear growth problems. The success of the scheme in predicting and characterizing the well known Gompertz, West, and logistic models, suggests to us the study of a hitherto unexplored class of nonlinear growth problems.

One of the most challenging goals in pharmacological research is overcoming the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) to deliver drugs to the Central Nervous System (CNS). The use of physical means, such as steady and alternating magnetic fields to drive nanocarriers with proper magnetic characteristics may prove to be a useful strategy. The present review aims at providing an up-to-date picture of the applications of magnetic-driven nanotheranostics agents to the CNS. Although well consolidated on physical ground, some of the techniques described herein are still under investigation on in vitro or in silico models, while others have already entered in—or are close to—clinical validation. The review provides a concise overview of the physical principles underlying the behavior of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) interacting with an external magnetic field. Thereafter we describe the physiological pathways by which a substance can reach the brain from the bloodstream and then we focus on those MNP applications that aim at a nondestructive crossing of the BBB such as static magnetic fields to facilitate the passage of drugs and alternating magnetic fields to increment BBB permeability by magnetic heating. In conclusion, we briefly cite the most notable biomedical applications of MNPs and some relevant remarks about their safety and potential toxicity.