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Biomedical Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles

Daniel Ortega

Daniel Ortega

Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Madrid, Spain

Centro Nacional de Biotecnologa (CNB-CSIC) - IMDEA Nanociencia Associated Unit “Unidad de Nanobiotecnologa”, Madrid, Spain

University College London, London, UK

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Update based on the original article by Nand Kishore Prasad, Dhirendra Bahadur, Sébastien Vasseur and Etienne Duguet, Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Abstract

Magnetism, which is an intrinsic property of every atom, has a profound influence on living organisms. Magnetism of nanoparticles plays a strong role in certain specific applications of health care. More particularly, several magnetic inorganic oxides, such as iron oxides, which are biocompatible, have been extensively used for several medical applications in their nanometric form. These applications/perspectives include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, hyperthermia treatment of cancer, targeted drug delivery, biological separation or sensing, as well as magnetically aided cell and gene therapies. This article examines these applications through the understanding of the problems involved and the current and future possibilities for resolving them.

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