Magneto‐Conducting Core/Shell Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract Nanocomposites comprising magnetic nanoparticles and conducting polymers (MN‐CPs) are promising multifunctional nanomaterials that exhibit a unique combination of magnetism and electrical conductivity. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have a high surface area to volume ratio, excellent mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, whereas the conducting polymers are advantageous for their ease of synthesis, environmental stability, biocompatibility, and low cost. Therefore, the MN‐CP nanocomposites having synergistic qualities are being increasingly considered for almost all spheres of biomedical applications including biosensors, environmental remediation, drug delivery, as well as theranostics. In biosensors and purification applications, the magnetic affinity is useful for separation, and electrical transduction is utilized for signal transmission. MN‐CP nanocomposites are also promising in drug‐delivery applications as well since both external magnetic and electrical fields can be employed for targeted and stimuli responsive drug release. The MN‐CP nanocomposites are also potential near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal, magnetothermal, and MRI contrast agents and used for multimodal imaging in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. MN‐CP nanocomposites are multitalented nanoparticles with unique attributes that make them advantageous over other conventional agents and other nanocomposite systems. The objective of the current review is to provide an overview of the unique properties of these nanocomposites, their synthetic strategies and their potential applications explored so far in the biomedical field.