title: Fluorescent-magnetic hybrid nanostructures: preparation, properties, and applications in biology.
abstract: Research on nanocomposite materials aims at developing nanoscale composites with innovative optical, chemical, and magnetic properties, all combined in one single nanostructure. In this scenario, nanostructures which show simultaneously fluorescent and magnetic features are of particular interest for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In this review, we will focus our attention on magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposite based on colloidal iron oxide nanocrystals combined with different classes of fluorophores which can be either organic dyes, such as fluoresceins, cyanines, porphyrins, or colloidal quantum dots. We will give an overview of the preparation methods of the magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposites that are now available and we will outline the most significant in vitro studies of such nanocomposites on living cells. Some examples of their applications in biology and medicine will also be discussed.
authors.affiliation: NNL-Nanotechnology Laboratory of CNR-INFM, Unità di ricerca IIT and Scuola Superiore ISUFI, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Corato
authors.forename: Liberato
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004705:Endocytosis; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008280:Magnetics; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008024:Ligands; C000499:ferric oxide; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide