Studies on superparamagnetic silver coated magnetite core shell nanostructures for multimodal applications

Abstract

Amidst all types of available nanoscale materials, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) of different nanostructures are the most widened studied types of nanoparticles for successful use in biomedicine. The utmost interest for their use in diagnostics and therapeutics is attributed to its room temperature superparamagnetic properties, intoxicity and low-cost easy synthesis. SPIONs have already been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA to be implemented in clinical use for human patients to enhance MRI signals, hyperthermic and targeted drug delivery agents. To impart multifunctionality to the synthesized SPIONs, they are coated with optically active metals which are very effective contrast enhancement agent.