Local Cancer Therapy with Magnetic Nanoparticles

The application of nanotechnology for treatment, diagnosis, and monitoring of diseases is summarized under the term nanomedicine. A particularly promising application is attributed to nanoparticular drug delivery systems. The goal of these carrier systems is the selective enrichment of active substances into diseased tissue structures, an increase in bioavailability, a decrease in active substance degradation, and above all the reduction and/or avoidance of unwanted side effects. Apart from numerous nanosystems acting as carriers, the use of iron oxide nanoparticles has to be particularly emphasized. On the one hand those particles are the carriers of the active substance and on the other hand they are also visualizable with conventional imaging techniques (X-ray and magnetic resonance tomography) and can therefore be used for 'theranostic' purposes. Beyond that, they can be employed for hyperthermia, a further important supporting pillar of nanomedicine. Both procedures should lead to personalized and specific therapy, which has medical and socioeconomic relevance in view of the worldwide increasing number of cancer patients. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel