Amruta Kadam* 1
Amit Bagade 2
Modern biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences have undergone a radical revolution brought about by nanotechnology that allows the design and production of materials at nanoscale with new physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Nanometer-engineered materials exhibit some of the most unusual properties that are not otherwise found in bulk materials because of quantum confinement, larger surface-area, and modified electronic structures. Such nanoscale properties have provided new possibilities in the development of new diagnostic apparatus, targeted therapeutic systems, and multifunctional biomedical apparatuses [1]. Magnetic nanomaterials are one of the various classes of nanomaterials that have attracted a lot of attention because they can respond to external magnetic fields and at the same time remain at nanoscale size that can be used in biological interactions. The magnetic nanomaterials can be widely defined as nanoparticles made of magnetic components or materials including iron, cobalt, nickel or their oxides and ferrites that have magnetic features when subjected to an external magnetic field. The reason behind this is the fact that these particles usually have sizes in the range of 1-100 nanometres hence can interact with biomolecules, cells and tissues in complex biological environments in a unique manner due to the distinctive physicochemical and magnetic characteristics that these materials develop with the nanoscale [2]. Superparamagnetic is one of the greatest properties of magnetic nanoparticles whereby nanoparticles are highly magnetized when an external magnetic field is applied upon the nanoparticles instead of magnetic remanence being maintained once the external magnetic field is removed. This property is especially beneficial in biomedical systems since it prevents the aggregation of the particles and provides colloidal stability in the physiological systems [3]. Moreover, due to high surface-volume ratio of nanoparticles, these particles can be easily functionalized on their surfaces with polymers, ligands and biomolecules, which improve their stability, targeting ability and other biological systems [4]. The magnetic nanomaterials have a few benefits over the traditional therapeutic and diagnostic materials, as well. They can be magnetically responsive, which means that external magnetic fields can direct nanoparticles to their target anatomic locations and thus create magnetically targeted drug delivery systems to decrease systemic toxicity and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Besides, magnetic nanoparticles may be used as contrast agents in a magnetic resonance imaging model, which offers increased sensitivity to image and spatial resolution in the diagnosis of disease [5]. They have also been applied in magnetic hyperthermia therapy wherein local heating of magnetic nanoparticles within the alternating magnetic fields can be used to selectively kill cancer cells without damaging the nearby healthy tissues [6]. Besides these, magnetic nanomaterials are also showing potentials in biosensing, bioseparation, tissue engineering, gene delivery and regenerative medicine. Their versatility enables them to be used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications on the same nanoscale platform and thus the creation of enhanced theranostic systems that enable disease diagnosis and targeted therapy in one platform [7]. The growing interdisciplinary research in the areas of materials science, nanotechnology, chemistry, biology, and medicine has boosted the creation of new magnetic nanomaterials with better physicochemical properties and improved biological activities. Nonetheless, even with these encouraging developments, various challenges are still present in regards to the stability of nanoparticles, possible toxicity, large scale production, and clinical approval of magnetic nanomaterials use [2,6].Accordingly, the key to successful translation of magnetic nanomaterials into clinical and pharmaceutical use is a thorough insight into the fundamentals of the concept, production methods, functionalization, characterization, and regulatory approval of nanomaterials use. This review aims at discussing in detail the basic principles of magnetism of the magnetic nanomaterials, the different types of magnetic nanoparticles employed in biomedical research, synthesis methods, surface engineering approaches, characterization of the nanoparticles and the different biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Besides, the review also points out the aspects of toxicity, the limitations that are present, and the future trends in the development of magnetic nanomaterials in advanced medical practices.
10.5281/zenodo.18932010