Magneto- and Thermoresponsive Systems: A Review of Their Application in Cancer Theranostics

Smart materials have been widely explored in the field of cancer therapy due to their ability to respond to external stimuli, enabling on-demand, controlled treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles and thermoresponsive polymers are two different classes of smart materials that can respond to the application of a magnetic field and a temperature variation, respectively. Incorporating magnetic nanoparticles into thermoresponsive polymeric structures gives rise to multifunctional dual-stimuli responsive devices with a broader field of applications capable of performing synergistic cancer treatment and diagnosis. This review focuses on the development of magnetothermally responsive systems for cancer theranostics, focusing on magnetic hyperthermia, controlled drug release, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Herein, we explore magnetic nanoparticles and thermoresponsive polymers, introduce key concepts, and discuss recent developments in cancer theranostics applications. Finally, the review evolves to systems that combine both stimuli-responsive abilities, leading to different magnetothermally responsive architectures while discussing their advances in combination therapy and diagnosis.