Magnetic particles for drug delivery

Magnetic drug delivery (MDD) is a high-potential therapeutic method in which biocompatible magnetic drug-carriers are magnetically driven to target tissues and restrained locally by magnetic fields (MFs). To date, a number of magnetic nanoparticles with varying compositions and coatings that have been loaded with specific drugs have been prepared and tested. The entire drug delivery process can be well controlled and optimized by guiding magnetic compounds through the circulatory system using MFs generated by single magnets or systems of magnets. In this chapter, we will go over the various types of nanoparticles and coatings that are commonly used for MDD, as well as the most representative tested drugs and the associated magnetic delivery systems. Mesenchymal stem cells will also be studied as natural carriers for MDD. The future outlook of research in this field is estimated based on the requirements for a more reliable, efficient, and performance MDD.