The applications of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine

Since magnetic particles have unique features, the development of a variety of medical applications has been become possible. The most unique feature of magnetic particles is their reaction to a magnetic force,and this feature has been utilized in applications such as drug targeting and bioseparation including cell sorting. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles have attracted attention because of their potential as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and heating mediators for cancer therapy (hyperthermia). Thus, the applications of these functionalized magnetic nanopatcles with their unique features will further improve medical techniques. In this article, we will mainly discuss the application of magnetic nanoparticles in magnetic separation drug delivery, magnetofection, MRI, hyperthermia and tissue engineering.