Chemically Engineered Iron Oxide and Carbon Nanostructures for Medicinal Applications: Bioconjugation Strategies for Next Generation in vitro and ex vivo Theranostics

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The research area of nanomedicine has gained significant attention over the past decade due to the superior imaging and therapeutic properties of nano-sized carrier materials, which can effectively interact with cells. Precise control over the physicochemical properties of these carriers is crucial for creating optimized and efficient vectors. This work focuses on synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with homogeneous particle morphology (spherical, cube-, ellipsoid-shaped), size (5-200 nm), and phase (Fe3O4, Fe1-xO, α-Fe2O3) through specific surface ligands and controlled reaction parameters during thermal decompositions and solvothermal reactions. Magnetization and relaxivity measurements confirmed their suitability for bioimaging applications, including MRI and MPI. The high MRI contrast of these IONPs was utilized for visualizing next-generation electronic brain implants in ex vivo experiments. Additionally, IONPs exhibited remarkable heating potential in specific absorption rate (SAR) measurements, indicating usefulness in hyperthermia applications. A method for controlled surface modification and bioconjugation of IONPs was developed, enabling the covalent attachment of RNA strands for intracellular capturing and purification of microRNAs and marker proteins. The interaction between biomolecules and nanostructures was further explored using silica particles modified with cell-penetrating peptides, preserving the