Targeted anticancer drug delivery via surface engineered iron oxide nanoparticles: A recent update

Cancer treatment is a challenging task due to the complexity and variation of the disease, late diagnosis, and severe side effects of the antineoplastic agents. Targeted drug delivery via surface-engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) can improve treatment effectiveness while reducing the severity of adverse effects. The effective size control capabilities and superparamagnetic behavior make IONPs a promising drug delivery system for cancer treatment. Their preparation methodologies should optimize essential attributes like size, shape, and superparamagnetic properties. Furthermore, their surface properties must enhance colloidal stability and halflife in the bloodstream. This review describes various surface coating agents currently employed to stabilize the IONPs and their recent uses in targeted drug administration. Surface modified IONPs can be cross-linked with tumor-targeting ligands (like monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and proteins) for their delivery to the cancertargeted site with/without utilizing their magnetic properties. Their active targeting approach can reduce the dosage requirement for efficient drug binding. On the contrary, the passive delivery of IONPs is influenced by their physicochemical properties and particle size. Surface modification with biopolymers can minimize blood protein opsonization, extending blood circulation and sustaining drug release at the cancer site. On the other hand, metal and metal oxide are employed as doping agents on the surface of IONPs to provide good physical and biological strength. Surface functionalized IONPs may become the next generation cancer treatment strategy; however, more study into their clinical applicability and commercialization is required.