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Magnetic Targeted Nanomaterials and Applications in Drug Delivery and Diagnostics

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 465

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, 71004 Crete, Greece
Interests: liposomes; nanoparticles; hydrogels; 2D nanomaterials; biopolymers
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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, Greece
Interests: targeted drug delivery; nanomedicines; liposome technology; lipid-based formulations
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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Politehnica University of Bucharest, RO-011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: synthesis and characterization of nanobiomaterials; polymers; pharmaceutical nanotechnology; drug delivery; anti-biofilm surfaces; nanomodified surfaces; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Magnetic nanomaterials have emerged at the forefront of precision medicine, offering unique opportunities to surmount the limitations of conventional drug delivery and diagnostic modalities. By integrating magnetic responsiveness with nanoscale engineering, these constructs enable externally guided navigation, controlled payload release, and multimodal imaging contrast—all within a single platform. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and their derivatives, for example, can be readily functionalized with chemotherapeutics, targeting ligands or fluorescent probes, thereby transforming inert carriers into actively steered theranostic agents. This convergence of magnetism and nanotechnology promises higher therapeutic indices, reduced off‑target effects, and the real‑time tracking of biodistribution.

At the heart of magnetic targeting lies the ability to apply spatially localized magnetic fields that generate translational or rotational forces on nanocarriers, effectively concentrating them at pathological sites. Beyond simple magnetic guidance, alternating magnetic fields can induce localized heating (magnetic hyperthermia) to trigger drug release or ablate tumor tissue, while magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and magneto‑motional ultrasound leverage the same core materials for high‑contrast, high‑sensitivity diagnostics. Surface engineering further broadens functionality—polymer coatings improve colloidal stability and biocompatibility; stimuli‑responsive layers permit pH‑ or enzyme‑triggered cargo liberation; and bioconjugation with antibodies or peptides confers cell‑type specificity.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in hybrid platforms that combine magnetic cores with liposomes, dendrimers, metal–organic frameworks or even biomimetic membranes, each tailored to distinct clinical challenges. In oncology, magnetically guided nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced tumor penetration and synergistic efficacy when paired with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In neurological disorders, efforts to traverse the blood–brain barrier via magnetophoresis are gaining traction. Meanwhile, diagnostic applications—from early‑stage tumor detection to the monitoring of inflammatory processes—benefit from the dual imaging and therapeutic potential of these agents, setting the stage for truly personalized, image‑guided interventions.

This Special Issue of Molecules brings together advances in the synthesis, characterization, and application of magnetic targeted nanomaterials across drug delivery and diagnostics. We welcome contributions on novel magnetic core–shell architectures; innovative surface chemistries for enhanced targeting and controlled release; in vitro and in vivo evaluations of efficacy, safety, and biodistribution; as well as computational and modeling studies that deepen our mechanistic understanding. By highlighting interdisciplinary approaches that bridge materials science, biology, and clinical translation, this collection aims to chart a roadmap toward next‑generation theranostics—where magnetic nanotechnology not only treats disease with pinpoint accuracy but also illuminates its journey through the body.

Dr. Athanasios Skouras
Prof. Dr. Sophia G. Antimisiaris
Prof. Dr. Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • magnetic targeting
  • theranostics
  • drug delivery
  • nanomaterials
  • magnetic hyperthermia

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 1556 KiB  
Article
Engineered PAM-SPION Nanoclusters for Enhanced Cancer Therapy: Integrating Magnetic Targeting with pH-Responsive Drug Release
by Dimitra Tzavara, Konstantina Papadia, Argiris Kolokithas-Ntoukas, Sophia G. Antimisiaris and Athanasios Skouras
Molecules 2025, 30(13), 2785; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30132785 - 28 Jun 2025
Viewed by 369
Abstract
Background: Nanomedicine approaches for cancer therapy face significant challenges, including a poor tumor accumulation, limited therapeutic efficacy, and systemic toxicity. We hypothesized that controlling the clustering of poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid) (PAM)-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) would enhance their magnetic properties for improved [...] Read more.
Background: Nanomedicine approaches for cancer therapy face significant challenges, including a poor tumor accumulation, limited therapeutic efficacy, and systemic toxicity. We hypothesized that controlling the clustering of poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid) (PAM)-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) would enhance their magnetic properties for improved targeting, while enabling a pH-responsive drug release in tumor microenvironments. Methods: PAM-stabilized SPION clusters were synthesized via arrested precipitation, characterized for physicochemical and magnetic properties, and evaluated for doxorubicin loading and pH-dependent release. A dual targeting approach combining antibody conjugation with magnetic guidance was assessed in cellular models, including a novel alternating magnetic field (AMF) pre-treatment protocol. Results: PAM-SPION clusters demonstrated controlled size distributions (60–100 nm), excellent colloidal stability, and enhanced magnetic properties, particularly for larger crystallites (13 nm). The formulations exhibited a pH-responsive drug release (8.5% at pH 7.4 vs. 14.3% at pH 6.5) and a significant enhancement of AMF-triggered release (17.5%). The dual targeting approach achieved an 8-fold increased cellular uptake compared to non-targeted formulations. Most notably, the novel AMF pre-treatment protocol demonstrated an 87% improved therapeutic efficacy compared to conventional post-treatment applications. Conclusions: The integration of targeting antibodies, magnetic guidance, and a pH-responsive PAM coating creates a versatile theranostic platform with significantly enhanced drug delivery capabilities. The unexpected synergistic effect of the AMF pre-treatment represents a promising new approach for improving the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticle-based cancer treatments. Full article
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