Ricerc@Sapienza

Several nanotechnologies rely on the use of magnetic field for therapeutic purposes, as cancer treatment, inflammation, and diseases of the nervous system. The liposomal drug delivery system is a novel technique that allows a controlled release of drugs encapsulated in a nano-carrier (i.e. liposomes), by the application of an external (electric, magnetic, thermal) stimulus to guarantee a local effect on the region where the disease has developed.

Several nanotechnologies rely on the use of magnetic field for therapeutic purposes, as cancer treatment, inflammation, and diseases of the nervous system. The liposomal drug delivery system is a novel technique that allows a controlled release of drugs encapsulated in a nanocarrier (i.e. liposomes), by the application of an external (electric, magnetic, thermal) stimulus to guarantee a local effect on the region where the disease has developed.

Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used to trigger drug release from magnetoliposomes through a magneto-nanomechanical approach, where the mechanical actuation of the MNPs is used to enhance the membrane permeability. This result can be effectively achieved with low intensity non-thermal alternating magnetic field (AMF), which, however, found rare clinic application. Therefore, a different modality of generating non-thermal magnetic fields has now been investigated.