Search

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) hold the potential to exert significant influence on fighting cancer through their theranostics capabilities as contrast agents (CAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as mediators for magnetic hyperthermia (MH). In addition, these capabilities can be improved by doping IONPs with other elements. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of single‐core and alloy ZnFe novel magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), with improved magnetic properties and more efficient magnetic‐to‐heat conversion, are reported. Remarkably, the results challenge classical nucleation and growth theories, which cannot fully predict the final size/shape of these nanoparticles and, consequently, their magnetic properties, implying the need for further studies to better understand the nanomagnetism phenomenon. On the other hand, leveraging the enhanced properties of these new NPs, successful tumor therapy by MH is achieved following their intravenous administration and tumor accumulation via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Notably, these results are obtained using a single low dose of MNPs and a single exposure to clinically suitable alternating magnetic fields (AMF). Therefore, as far as the authors are aware, for the first time, the successful application of intravenously administered MNPs for MRI‐tracked MH tumor therapy in passively targeted tumor xenografts using clinically suitable conditions is demonstrated. This work details the development and thorough characterization of zinc‐ferrite alloy and core–shell magnetic nanoparticles, offering new insights into the mechanisms of nanoparticle nucleation and growth that challenge classical theories. Additionally, this study successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of these nanoparticles for MRI‐tracked magnetic hyperthermia tumor therapy in tumor xenografts following their intravenous administration under clinically suitable conditions.