Special Issue "Magnetic Nanoparticles"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Jon Dobson
Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7QB, UK
Website: http://www.keele.ac.uk/research/istm/jdobson.html
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Magnetic micro- and nanoparticles have been used in biological and biomedical investigations since the 1920s when Heilbrunn and Seifritz first used the forces on these particles to examine the rheological properties of cells. Since that time, myriad uses for these particles have arisen and much progress has been made in synthesis techniques and bio-functionalization. Superparamagnetic iron oxides are routinely used in the clinic today as MRI contrast agents and are found in many pathology laboratories around the world where they are used to tag cells for cell separation and immunoassay. More recent, novel uses include binding to specific cell receptors to control cell function and stem cell differentiation for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, as well as magnetic targeting for drug and gene delivery and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. This issue will cover a variety of topics related to the use of MNPs in biomedicine and examine both novel synthesis and functionalization techniques as well as their current and future uses in biomedical research, diagnostics and therapy.

Prof. Dr. Jon Dobson
Guest Editor

Related Special Issue

Magnetic Nanoparticles in Materials.

Submission

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• magnetic nanoparticles
• biomedical
• superparamagnetic
• tissue engineering
• regenerative medicine

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Nanotechnology-Based Strategies against Protozoan-Caused Diseases
Authors: G. F. Goya ¹ and A. M. Silber ²
Affiliations: ¹ Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón (INA) and Departamento de Materia Condensada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; E-Mail: goya@unizar.es
² Departmento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract: The development of nanotechnology in the last decade has boosted up many biomedical research areas. Perhaps the most conspicuous case is the (now routinary) use of nanoparticles (NPs) in laboratory and industry protocols like magnetic separation, fluorescent imaging, or bacterial detection. Magnetic NPs have also been employed recently as nanometer-scale heaters, since they can absorb energy applying a time varying magnetic field to induce temperature-triggered cellular death. The possibility of using these nano-scale devices to target infectious agents has been raised. Targeting key molecules or cell organelles, which control metabolic pathways of kinetoplastid-caused diseases, is a future direction for specific treatments based on intracellular action. This review intends to focus on such lines, discussing the current state of NPs applications to diseases caused by organisms ranging from protozoan parasites to bacteria.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Environmental Applications
Author: Humphrey H. P. Yiu
Affiliation: Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AD, UK; E-Mail: H.H.Yiu@hw.ac.uk
Abstract: Research on the use of inorganic magnetic nanoparticles for environmental applications has grown rapidly in recent years due to the demands from societies. Inorganic nanoparticles offer the advantages of high surface area for the absorption of pollutants and the possibility of surface functionalization using organic entities.  In addition to these advantages, magnetic nanoparticles can be removed easily using an external magnetic field.  This highly improves the efficiency of the clean up processes and the reuse and recycling of materials.  The most commonly used magnetic nanoparticles are iron oxide-based nanomaterials, usually magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or maghemite (gamma-Fe₂O₃).  In this review, the preparation chemistry, surface functionalization and the environmental applications of these magnetic nanoparticles will be discussed.