Antisense Oligonucleotides and Magnetic Nanoparticles for Targeted Diagnostic and Cancer Treatment

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com cellular and cellular based mechanisms of resistance and to increase selectivity of drugs [1]. In this way as an example, Wang et al. [2] reported that targeted magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-FU can improve the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU against hepatocellular carcinoma. Nanoparticles may be defined as colloidal systems (<1 μm), generally made of polymers. They may act as a drug vehicle able to target tumor cells1. The size of the colloidal carriers as well as their surface characteristics are the key for the biological fate of nanoparticles. The use of hydrophilic polymers to efficiently coat conventional nanoparticles surface opened the possibility of creates new types of nanoparticles [3]. In this way, coating conventional nanoparticles with surfactants, in order to obtain a long-circulating carrier, has been the first strategy used to direct tumor targeting in vivo. In addition, the synthesis of biocompatible super paramagnetic materials has long been of interest in biomedical applications including magnetic resonance imaging for clinical diagnosis, magnetic drug targeting, hyperthermia as anti-cancer strategy, and enzyme immobilization [4].