Magnetic nanoparticles-based therapy for malignant mesothelioma.

This work was aimed to analyze the versatility of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as in vivo model for the study of the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and the therapeutic potential of Fe3O4÷salicylic acid magnetic nanoparticles (SaMNPs) on MPM cells. The antitumor effects of SaMNPs were studied by in vitro and in vivo tests on CARM-L12 TG3 rat malignant mesothelioma cells and human MPM xenografts implanted on CAMs. In order to assess the human MPM xenograft growth characteristics, calretinin, HBME-1 (Hector Battifora mesothelial epitope-1), and cytokeratins immunohistochemical stainings were performed. The human MPM xenografts continue to develop on the CAMs and xenograft MPM cells showed highly metastatic features and a particular pattern of metastasis. The SaMNPs had a specific uptake by the MPM cells and an antiproliferative effect at therapeutic doses greater than 100 µg÷mL. The results confirmed the possibility to use the CAM as in vivo model to study the biology of MPM and to evaluate the antitumor potential of new therapeutic agents. They highlighted a strong antitumor effect of the SaMNPs on the rat and human MPM cells and open new perspectives in the treatment of MPM.

Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles followed two main directions in the field of biomedical applications: one direction is as image enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the other is as drugdelivery devices for various biologically-active substances. A third field which just emerges in nanomedicine is the field of the so-called theranostic devices which combines in the same delivery vehicle both the therapeutic agent and the contrast substance. The advantages of using nanoparticles instead of larger carriers for delivery of both drug and image contrast enhancing agents will be highlighted throughout this review article. Despite the ever increasing number of articles reporting both in vitro and in vivo studies carried out on functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and envisaging their potential biomedical applications, only few formulations reached the phase of clinical trials and even fewer became marketed products. The perspectives in the field are open, since new drugs require new delivery devices and possibly new means of functionalization. At the same time, the field of nanomedicine also provides the opportunity to better exploit drugs that are already in clinical use by improving their bioavailability through appropriate nanoformulations.