and in vivo settings, as well as its prospects in the field of modern science and

medicine.

Keywords

Magnetofectin · Targeted gene delivery · Magnetofection · Iron nanoparticles

17.1

Introduction

Targeted drug delivery has always been the goal of researchers to minimize side

effects of the therapeutic agents. Ideally, a preferable drug delivery system is

non-immunogenic, nontoxic, biocompatible, cost effective with ease of localized

delivery, as well as suitable for human use (Coelho et al. 2010). Researchers all over

the globe are tirelessly working to design such drug delivery system, which is both

safe and can target the area of interest. One of these drug delivery approaches is

magnetic nanoparticle (NP) (Nandi et al. 2017).

Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have gained popularity and are the focus

of discussion among researchers. Magnetic NPs have a biodegradable iron oxide

core and an outer polymer coating. This polymer is often loaded with the drug of

choice using certain types of linkers or even conjugated to the magnetic

nanoparticles (Fig. 17.1). Once coated these nanoparticles can be delivered into

the systemic circulation via intravenous injections or administered near target site in

the body. A strong magnetic field around the target tissue is applied that facilitates

magnetic NPs to accumulate around the targeted area and perform desired effect

instead of leaching into the systemic circulation, thus preventing undesirable side

effects in other organs of the body. This approach is being preferred by researchers,

Fig. 17.1 Design and concept of magnetic nanoparticles. Typical magnetic nanoparticle has iron

oxide magnetic core and polymer coating outside. Drugs/biomolecules are linked to polymer via a

linker. Once administered into the body, the cell’s linker gets digested with enzymes or by heat, and

drug/biomolecules are released inside the cells (Chen et al. 2017; Wang et al. 2018)

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