Surface-engineered magnetic nanoparticles for molecular detection of infectious agents and cancer

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), especially superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), have long been studied as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Owing to recent progress in synthesis and surface modification, many new avenues have opened for this class of biomaterials. Such nanoparticles are not merely tiny magnetic crystals, but potential platforms with large surface-to-volume ratios. By taking advantage of the well developed surface chemistry of MNPs, a wide range of functionalities, such as targeting, imaging, detection and therapeutic features, can be loaded onto their surfaces. This property makes magnetic nanoparticles excellent biomaterials for molecular detection of infectious agents and cancer. This short review thus discusses current advances on magnetic nanoparticles as molecular detection agents for infectious agents and cancer.