Maheshwari Shubhrat, Singh Aditya, Verma Amita, Shariq Mohammad, Akhtar Juber, Alsaidan Omar Awad, Prajapati Bhupendra G
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, 211007, India.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226026, India.
Med Oncol. 2025 Jul 16;42(8):338. doi: 10.1007/s12032-025-02913-z.
Brain tumors are among the most lethal forms of cancer, often presenting treatment challenges due to the complexity of the central nervous system and the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as promising agents in neuro-oncology due to their unique magnetic properties, biocompatibility, and multifunctional capabilities. SPIONs serve as potent contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug delivery vehicles, and hyperthermia mediators. Their ability to be functionalized with ligands and antibodies allows for targeted delivery, minimizing systemic toxicity and enhancing therapeutic precision. Moreover, SPIONs have shown potential in modulating immune responses, disrupting tumor microenvironments, and improving the delivery of chemotherapeutics across the BBB. Despite encouraging preclinical outcomes and some early-phase clinical trials, challenges such as biodistribution control, toxicity, and manufacturing scalability remain. This review highlights the current landscape of SPION applications in brain tumor therapy and diagnosis, elaborating on their synthesis, functionalization, and translational hurdles. We also discuss future directions, including AI-guided theranostics, personalized nanomedicine, and integration with immunotherapy, aiming to illuminate the path forward for SPION-based clinical interventions.
脑肿瘤是最致命的癌症形式之一，由于中枢神经系统的复杂性和血脑屏障（BBB）的限制性，常常带来治疗挑战。超顺磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒（SPIONs）因其独特的磁性、生物相容性和多功能性，已成为神经肿瘤学中有前景的药物。SPIONs在磁共振成像（MRI）中用作强效造影剂、药物递送载体和热疗介质。它们与配体和抗体功能化的能力允许靶向递送，将全身毒性降至最低并提高治疗精度。此外，SPIONs在调节免疫反应、破坏肿瘤微环境以及改善化疗药物穿过血脑屏障的递送方面已显示出潜力。尽管临床前结果令人鼓舞且有一些早期临床试验，但诸如生物分布控制、毒性和生产可扩展性等挑战仍然存在。本综述强调了SPIONs在脑肿瘤治疗和诊断中的当前应用情况，阐述了它们的合成、功能化和转化障碍。我们还讨论了未来方向，包括人工智能引导的治疗诊断学、个性化纳米医学以及与免疫疗法的整合，旨在为基于SPIONs的临床干预指明前进道路。
