Abstract

Cancer is a complex disease in which certain cells in the body grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Although there have been advances observed in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, many studies are conducted to eliminate the side effects that occur during treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are of great interest in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their magnetic features, biocompatibility, and stability. These features allow them to be used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a therapeutic system with a drug release system and hyperthermia. MNP-based imaging, drug release systems, and hyperthermia treatments have been studied by researchers and reported to be promising for the treatment of various types of cancer. Although the clinical applications of MNPs for cancer treatment are still controversial, researchers think that MNPs will play an important role in meeting health needs in the future. In this review, we present advances in in-vitro and in-vivo research for diagnosis and treatment, besides an overview of the basic technical principles of MNPs.

Key words: Magnetic nanoparticle, cancer, hyperthermia, drug release systems, active and passive targeting