A Simple Method to Prepare Aqueous Dispersion of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Biodistribution Study

Nanomaterials are promising future tools for diagnosis and therapy of different cancer types. These particles have an ability to cross bio-physiological barriers in-vivo. However, various characteristics of these nanodrugs, such as their physical size, biocompatibility and toxicity, their biodynamics including uptake and clearance by and from any particular organ need to be very well known before their use as carriers for anticancer drug. In this work, we propose a method to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles and to prepare their water based suspension of for intravenous administration. Further, their biodistribution routes have been studies under Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) after labeling them with radioisotope. Only water based suspensions are favorable for water soluble anticancer drug loading. Our results indicate promising labeling efficiency achieved with Tc-99m and longer blood retention time of our prepared nanoparticles suspension due to their very small size even without any external coating. These particles are also able to evade Reticulo-endothelial (RES) system without any surface modification, and can cross blood brain barrier. Effect of external magnetic field also indicates their promise for further use in cancer therapy through anticancer drug also with additional coatings as planned in future.