Magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery

Targeting specific sites in vivo for the delivery of therapeutic compounds presents a major obstacle to the treatment of many diseases. One targeted delivery technique that has gained prominence in recent years is the use of magnetic nanoparticles. In these systems, therapeutic compounds are attached to biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic fields generated outside the body are focused on specific targets in vivo. The fields capture the particle complex resulting in enhanced delivery to the target site. This review will focus on technical aspects of magnetic targeting as well as nanoparticle design and animal and clinical trials. Drug Dev. Res. 67:55–60, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.