ABSTRACT

This review focuses on the synthesis, properties, specifications, design characterization, and application of magnetic nanoparticles, as well as the safety and biocompatibility of the nano structured systems. A nanoparticle can be defined as a material with three external dimensions of equal nanoscale dimensions .The major benefit of using nanoparticles is that, due to their size, they can be accurately manoeuvred and targeted to a specific biological entity or marker  and interact on a cellular (10–100 nm), sub cellular (20–250 nm), protein (3–50 nm), or genetic scale (10–100 nm) .By functionalizing the polymer or metal coating it is possible to attach, for example, cytotoxic drugs for targeted chemotherapy or therapeutic DNA to correct a genetic defect. Their unique, electronic, optical, and magnet properties coupled with their specific dimensions have furthered their attractiveness in this field . Furthermore, nanoparticles can be customized for a specific biological purpose such as cell isolation, drug delivery, diagnostics (magnetic resonance imaging MRI), cellular imaging, and hyperthermia. Examples of nanoparticles include quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Magnetic nanoparticles will be the main focus of this paper.

Key words: Magnetic nanoparticles, Ferrite, Hyperthermia.