Review on macromolecule-based magnetic theranostic agents for biomedical applications: Targeted therapy and diagnostic imaging

Abstract

Clinical diagnostics and biological research are advanced by magnetic theranostic, which uses macromolecule-based magnetic theranostic agents for targeted therapy and diagnostic imaging. Within this review, the interaction of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with biological macromolecules will be covered. The exciting potential of macromolecule-based magnetic theranostic agents to be used as a tool in drug delivery, photothermally therapy (PTT), gene therapy, hyperthermia therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) will be discussed. Innovative imaging technique: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI), fluorescence scanning, and photoacoustic scanning are revolutionizing biological diagnosis by potentially overcoming historical limitations. This review will cover the challenge of fabricating of macromolecule-based magnetic theranostic agents as a promising platform for theranostic that can combine therapies with diagnostics at subcellular level. Additionally, it looks at several chemical pathways leading to the process for generating MNPs, including the co-precipitation, the sol-gel, the hydrothermal synthesis, the polyol route, and the microemulsion technique. Eventually, the demands and prospects for magnetic theranostic are discussed, focusing on the requirement of further investigation to improve MNP structure towards biocompatible material and translation of these promising theranostic agents into clinical applications.

Keywords: Biomedical applications; Diagnostic imaging; Magnetic nanoparticles; Targeted therapy; Theranostic agent.