title: Current investigations into magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
abstract: It is generally recognized that nanoparticles possess unique physicochemical properties that are largely different from those of conventional materials, specifically the electromagnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). These properties have attracted many researchers to launch investigations into their potential biomedical applications, which have been reviewed in this article. First, common types of MNPs were briefly introduced. Then, the biomedical applications of MNPs were reviewed in seven parts: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cancer therapy, the delivery of drugs and genes, bone and dental repair, tissue engineering, biosensors, and in other aspects, which indicated that MNPs possess great potentials for many kinds of biomedical applications due to their unique properties. Although lots of achievements have been obtained, there is still a lot of work to do. New synthesis techniques and methods are still needed to develop the MNPs with satisfactory biocompatibility. More effective methods need to be exploited to prepare MNPs-based composites with fine microstructures and high biomedical performances. Other promising research points include the development of more appropriate techniques of experiments both in vitro and in vivo to detect and analyze the biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of MNPs and understand the possible influencing mechanism of the two properties. More comprehensive investigations into the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of composites containing MNPs with "core-shell" structure and deeper understanding and further study into the properties of MNPs to reveal their new biomedical applications, are also described in the conclusion and perspectives part.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721.
authors.forename: Katerina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Aifantis
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
authors.forename: Qingling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Zhai
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8586, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Watari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles
keywords: biosensor; drug delivery; magnetic nanoparticle; magnetic resonance imaging; tissue engineering