Multifunctional magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Corr, S.A., Rakovich, Y.P. and Gun'ko, Y.K. (2008) Multifunctional magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposites for biomedical applications. Nanoscale Research Letters, 3, pp. 87-104. (doi: 10.1007/s11671-008-9122-8)

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Abstract

Nanotechnology is a fast-growing area, involving the fabrication and use of nano-sized materials and devices. Various nanocomposite materials play a number of important roles in modern science and technology. Magnetic and fluorescent inorganic nanoparticles are of particular importance due to their broad range of potential applications. It is expected that the combination of magnetic and fluorescent properties in one nanocomposite would enable the engineering of unique multifunctional nanoscale devices, which could be manipulated using external magnetic fields. The aim of this review is to present an overview of bimodal ‘‘two-in-one’’ magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposite materials which combine both magnetic and fluorescent properties in one entity, in particular those with potential applications in biotechnology and nanomedicine. There is a great necessity for the development of these multifunctional nanocomposites, but there are some difficulties and challenges to overcome in their fabrication such as quenching of the fluorescent entity by the magnetic core. Fluorescentmagnetic nanocomposites include a variety of materials including silica-based, dye-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots-magnetic nanoparticle composites. The classification and main synthesis strategies, along with approaches for the fabrication of fluorescent-magnetic nanocomposites, are considered. The current and potential biomedical uses, including biological imaging, cell tracking, magnetic bioseparation, nanomedicine and bioand chemo-sensoring, of magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposites are also discussed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Corr, Professor Serena
Authors: Corr, S.A., Rakovich, Y.P., and Gun'ko, Y.K.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Nanoscale Research Letters
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:1931-7573
ISSN (Online):1556-276X
Published Online:06 March 2008
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2008 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nanoscale Research Letters 3:87-104
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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