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Progress in cancer therapy with functionalized Fe3O4 nanomaterials

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Abstract

Malignant neoplasms represent a significant global health threat. To address the need for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, research is underway to develop therapeutic nanoplatforms. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), specifically Fe3O4 NPs have been extensively studied as potential therapeutic agents for cancer due to their unique properties including magnetic targeting, favorable biocompatibility, high magnetic response sensitivity, prolonged in vivo circulation time, stable performance, and high self-metabolism. Their ability to be integrated with magnetic hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy has resulted in the widespread use of Fe3O4 NPs in cancer diagnosis and treatment, making them a popular choice for such applications. Various methods can be employed to synthesize magnetic Fe3O4 NPs, which can then be surface-modified with biocompatible materials or active targeting molecules. Multifunctional systems can be created by combining Fe3O4 NPs with polymers. By combining various therapeutic approaches, more effective biomedical materials can be developed. This paper discusses the synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs and the latest research advances in Fe3O4-based nanotherapeutic platforms, as well as their applications in the biomedical field.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12272253, 82103147, 12202302, 31800684, and 11802197), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, China (Grant Nos. 202203021221047, 20210302124007, and 20210302124405), the Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (HGKY2019037), the Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering (2021SX-AT008 and 2021SX-AT009), the Central Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Shanxi Province (YDZJSX2021A021), and the Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Shanxi Province (20220006) is also acknowledged with gratitude.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Center for Nano-biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Materials Strength & Structural Impact, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Yuhui Wang, Xuanyu Liu, Shilong Ma, Xuhong He, Chaiqiong Guo, Ziwei Liang, Yinchun Hu, Yan Wei, Xiaojie Lian & Di Huang

  2. Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, 030032, China

    Ziwei Liang, Yinchun Hu, Yan Wei, Xiaojie Lian & Di Huang

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  1. Yuhui Wang
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  2. Xuanyu Liu
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  3. Shilong Ma
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Wang, Y., Liu, X., Ma, S. et al. Progress in cancer therapy with functionalized Fe3O4 nanomaterials. Front. Mater. Sci. 17, 230658 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-023-0658-4

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