Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs): Synthesis, Surface Functionalization, and Targeting Drug Delivery Strategies: Mini-Review

Abstract

Iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) have received remarkable attention in a wide range of applications because of their unique physicochemical properties’ inheritance to the nanoscale. Among these nanoparticles (NPs), superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), as powerful noninvasive NPs, are widely used in nanomedicine applications such as targeted drug/ gene delivery, magnetic separation, cancer therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hyperthermia because of their superparamagnetic activity and remarkable small size. The synthesis of SPIONs and surface modification of these NPs for biological applications is an interesting research topic. These NPs have high magnetic susceptibility, a single magnetic domain, and a controlled magnetic behavior due to the SPION superparamagnetic feature. This review aims to explore the recently developed synthetic routes of SPIONs and show the best parameters to prepare SPIONs using pulsed laser ablation in liquid “PLAL” for biomedical applications. Furthermore, we highlight the properties, coating, and functionalization of SPIONs and their importance for biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.