title: Superparamagnetic nanosystems based on iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical imaging.
abstract: Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their dispersion in various mediums are of wide interest for their biomedical applications and physicochemical properties. MFe(2)O(4) or MOFe(2)O(3) (where M = Co, Li, Ni or Mn, for example) can be molecularly engineered to provide a wide range of magnetic properties. In this article, we survey the literature, integrating the results of our work to give a rational view on the synthesis, physicochemical properties and applications of MFe(2)O(4), especially for MRI. However, retrieving detailed biological information on a subcellular level is difficult, owing to the limited resolution and low sensitivity of the MRI technique. Thus, this article also concentrates on the development of a magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/quantum dot hybrids, as a dual-mode magnetic-fluorescent probe. The synthesis and physicochemical properties of the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/quantum dot hybrids and, especially, its application as an MRI-fluorescent probe, will also be described.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Organic & Biomedical Chemistry, NMR & Molecular Imaging Laboratory, University of Mons, Avenue Maistriau, 19, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Fujun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.forename: Luce
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vander Elst
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide