Nanoferrites-Based Drug Delivery Systems as Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer Treatments. Current Challenges and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide, whose treatment often involves chemotherapy. In a conventional therapy, drug is transported (and usually absorbed) across biological membranes through diffusion and systemic transport. The pathway that medicine must travel before reaching the desired location, can bring adverse or unwanted effects, which are mainly the result of: low bioavailability, low solubility and toxicity. To avoiding risks, nanoparticles coated with the drug could be used as a therapeutic substance to selectively reach an area of interest to act without affecting non-target cells, organs, or tissues (drug delivery). Here, the goal is to enhance the concentration of the chemotherapeutic drug in the disease parts of the body. Among all nanostructured systems, ferrites attract worldwide attention in drug delivery applications. It is due to their versatile magnetic and physicochemical properties. Here, it is reviewed and analyzed recent advances in synthesis, morphology, size, magnetic properties, functionalization with a focus in drug delivery applications of nanoferrites.