Development of Magneto Nanoparticles for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

Dear Colleague,

The potential of magneto nanoparticles for biomedical and environmental applications has been recognized, owing to their physicochemical and magnetic properties. Nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior are preferred for these purposes, as they exhibit a strong magnetization only when an external magnetic field is applied. The preparation methods determine the final shape, size distribution, surface chemistry, and magnetic characteristics of the magnetic nanoparticles.

In biomedical applications, concerning the ability to target specific sites of interest (through surface functionalization) and to produce heat, magnetic nanoparticles have been widely investigated for drug delivery, hyperthermia, and biological imaging as MRI contrast agents.

Considering their environmental applications, ferrites have shown potential in contaminant removal, remediation, and water treatment, as well as in the photodegradation of dyes and photoinduced water splitting. In this last regard, coupling of g-C3N4/Pt with cobalt ferrite raised hydrogen photoproduction efficiency more than three times when compared to g-C3N4/Pt. 

This Special Issue is devoted to the development of magnetic nanoparticles and their biomedical or environmental applications, including synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and structural and magnetic properties. The development and applications of magnetic nanoparticle-based systems, such as magnetic microemulsions, magnetic liposomes, magnetogels, and semiconductor/metallic nanoscale heterojunctions, are also welcome.

Dr. Paulo José Gomes Coutinho
Dr. Elisabete Maria dos Santos Castanheira Coutinho
Dr. Bernardo Gonçalves Almeida
Guest Editors

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