title: A bi-modal approach against cancer: magnetic alginate nanoparticles for combined chemotherapy and hyperthermia.
abstract: The use of polymeric carriers containing dispersed magnetic nanocrystalline particles has attracted considerable interest in the medical field. In this paper, we propose an innovative nanotechnological platform for cancer therapy, based on highly magnetized, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles. Alginate magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by our group by an efficient emulsion/reticulation technique and tested as drug delivery system. Here, we present a potential application that combines, in a single nanovector, efficient targeting, overcoming of bio-barriers, drug delivery, and physical disruption of tumor tissues.
authors.affiliation: Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33 - 56127 Pisa, Italy. g.ciofani@sssup.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciofani
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menciassi
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid