Magnetic Nanoparticles for Therapy and Diagnostics

The research and utilization of the magnetic nanoparticles in, e.g., biology and medicine have been preferentially oriented on magnetite Fe₃O₄ and maghemite γ-Fe₂O₃. The complex oxides allow a better control of the magnetic properties in a desirable way. We demonstrate this approach on an example of the La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ perovskites from the point of view of their use in self-controlled magnetic fluid hyperthermia and increase of contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. With materials possessing suitable values of transition temperature T_C, coercivity and magnetization, the heating power generated by the nanoparticles was estimated by two independent methods and they were finally employed in vitro and in vivo hyperthermia experiments.