title: Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
abstract: Due to their high magnetization, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles induce an important decrease in the transverse relaxation of water protons and are, therefore, very efficient negative MRI contrast agents. The knowledge and control of the chemical and physical characteristics of nanoparticles are of great importance. The choice of the synthesis method (microemulsions, sol-gel synthesis, laser pyrolysis, sonochemical synthesis or coprecipitation) determines the magnetic nanoparticle's size and shape, as well as its size distribution and surface chemistry. Nanoparticles can be used for numerous in vivo applications, such as MRI contrast enhancement and hyperthermia drug delivery. New developments focus on targeting through molecular imaging and cell tracking.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Organic and Biomedical Chemistry, University of Mons, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bridot
authors.forename: Luce Vander
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Elst
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide