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Global Translational Medicine

REVIEW ARTICLE
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-

based nanosystems for cancer theranostics

Jnanranjan Panda * and Dipanwita Das 2
1
1 Faculty of Science, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
2 Department of Physics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy
for lung cancer)

Abstract

The advancement of nanotechnology in the biomedical field has garnered growing
interest due to the diverse physical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) and their potential
applications in cancer theranostics. Although various nanodrug delivery systems,
such as polymeric, lipid-based, and gold NPs, are available, superparamagnetic iron
oxide NPs (SPIONs) have attracted significant attention due to their multifunctionality,
biocompatibility, ease of surface functionalization, and responsiveness to external
magnetic fields, enabling both cancer diagnostics and drug delivery applications.
This review provides an overview of SPIONs as a powerful theranostic tool in cancer
*Corresponding author: treatment. It also focuses on the synthesis and stabilization of SPIONs, discussing
Jnanranjan Panda various protection and stabilization strategies using both organic coatings (synthetic
(jnanranjanpanda.phys.rs@
jadavpuruniversity.in) and natural polymers) and inorganic coatings (such as silica and gold), as well as
liposomes. In addition, the review highlights targeted biomedical applications of
Citation: Panda J, Das D. SPIONs, including magnetic resonance imaging, hyperthermia, and drug delivery.
Superparamagnetic iron oxide
nanoparticle-based nanosystems Finally, it also addresses the challenges and limitations of SPIONs, as well as their
for cancer theranostics. Global future perspective in clinical translation in cancer theranostics.
Transl Med. 2025;4(2):31-50.
doi: 10.36922/gtm.8464
Received: January 8, 2025 Keywords: Iron oxide nanoparticles; Synthesis methods; Stabilization; Cancer theranostics
1st revised: February 20, 2025
2nd revised: February 27, 2025
3rd revised: March 4, 2025 1. Introduction
Accepted: March 4, 2025 Over the past decade, nanomaterials and nanotechnology have received significant
attention in cancer theranostics, as well as in cancer diagnosis and treatment, due to their
Published online: March 21, 2025 unique physicochemical properties at the nanoscale. Among the various nanoparticles
1-3
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). (NPs), superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs), such as magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and
This is an Open-Access article hematite (γ-Fe₂O₃), have garnered substantial attention due to their favorable magnetic
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution properties, low toxicity, biocompatibility, high chemical stability, and ease of surface
License, permitting distribution, functionalization. SPION-based materials have emerged at the forefront of cancer
4-7
and reproduction in any medium, research due to their potential to provide a comprehensive theranostic approach – serving
provided the original work is
properly cited. both as imaging agents for early tumor detection and as drug carriers for targeted drug
delivery – thus addressing many of the significant limitations associated with current
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with therapeutic approaches.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Cancer, with a startling global death rate, has recently been identified as one of the most
affiliations. fatal illnesses. According to the 2022 report from the International Agency for Research

Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 31 doi: 10.36922/gtm.8464