Chapter 11 – Cancer Therapy

Over the last two decades, iron oxide nanoparticles have demonstrated great progress and potential for use in oncological medicine. Due to their overall utility for a vast number of applications, iron oxides have been extensively investigated. This type of nanoparticle has numerous desirable properties such as facile synthesis, ease of functionalization, favorable magnetic characteristics, and biocompatible and biodegradable and is generally considered safe. Cancer therapy has already benefited in a number areas from the use of iron oxide nanoparticles in such areas as cancer imaging, a variety of therapeutic approaches including immunotherapy, cell tracking and monitoring, improved efficacy, and safety. While several forms of magnetite-based nanoparticle formulations are FDA approved as either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents or iron-deficiency therapeutics, there are still a number of other applications that these nanoparticles can be used for. Iron oxide nanoparticles can come in a number of shapes, sizes, and composition and can have modifiable coatings with targeting molecules such as antibodies, peptides, and small molecules. These surface moieties can improve tumor-targeting capabilities, while the nanoparticle itself can allow for monitoring by MRI and even optical methods depending on the modifications used and intended applications. Other potential cancer applications include improved delivery of cancer therapeutics, magnetic hypothermia, photothermal ablation, personalized medicine approaches, and photodynamic therapy. These approaches can result in multifunctional and/or theranostic nanoparticles suitable for diagnosis, treatment, and treatment monitoring of cancer.