Non thermal electromagnetic fields to trigger on -demand drug release from high-Tm magnetoliposomes

Magnetic nanoparticles with superparamagnetic properties have attracted increased attention for applications in biomedicine, as they exhibit a strong magnetization only when an external magnetic field is applied. Magnetoliposomes (MLs) are the combination of liposomes with encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles. The potential applications of these hybrid nanocarriers have been increasingly recognized as providing significant biomedical application possibilities. However, it is essential that nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetism, this causes nanoparticles to become susceptible to strong magnetization. When the magnetic field is applied, they orient toward this field, but do not retain permanent magnetization in the absence of magnetic field. The magnetic properties of super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs)-based magnetoliposomes allow for an alternative to conventional therapy through magnetically controlled drug delivery and hyperthermia. In this way they can be viewed as trigger-responsive carriers as they have the potential to act as "remote switches" that can turn on or off the effects of the therapeutics, based on the presence or absence of the stimulus. Recently, a pilot study has demonstrated the feasibility of a smart controlled delivery through a magnetic field with intensity significantly lower than the usual ones reported in literature . In this way, a controlled release has been obtained through a magneto- nanomechanical approach without a macroscopic temperature increase. Specifically, signals generated by non thermal alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) or non-thermal pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) were applied to high-transition temperature magnetoliposomes (high-Tm MLs) entrapping hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles that have been proven to be a potential biomaterial to magnetic field-controlled drug delivery system.