Polymer-Assisted Magnetic Nanoparticle Assemblies for Biomedical Applications

Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) assemblies have demonstrated great potential in biomedical applications due to their controllable magnetic properties and collective functions. Among the versatile approaches to obtaining MNP assemblies, polymer-assisted assembling methods offer unique advances, by which the assembled nanostructures could exert the merits of both the inorganic magnetic nanoparticles and organic polymeric materials to realize combined advantages for medical diagnosis and treatment. Precise control over the interactions among different building moieties and spatial organization of magnetic nanoparticles with the aid of polymers provides promising strategies in manipulating the physical, chemical, and biological properties of nanoassemblies for biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of polymer-assisted MNP assemblies, which include the mutual interactions between building blocks, architectural diversity of the assemblies, and their synthetic strategies along with biomedical applications. The current review provides a comprehensive insight into controlled and intelligent nanomedicines, which shall facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance theranostic agents based on MNP assemblies.