A Survey on Synthesis Processes of Structured Materials for Biomedical Applications: Iron-based Magnetic Nanoparticles, Polymeric Materials and Polymerization Processes

Magnetic materials based on iron oxides are extensively designed for several biomedical applications. Heterogeneous polymerization processes are powerful tools for the production of tailored micro-sized and nanosized magneto-polymeric particles. Although several polymerization processes have been adopted along the years, suspension, emulsion and miniemulsion systems deserve special attention due to its ability to produce spherical polymer particles containing magnetic nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed into the polymer thermoplastic matrices. The main objective of this paper is to review the main methods of synthesis of iron-based magnetic nanoparticles and to illustrate how typical polymerization processes in different dispersion medium can be successfully used to produce engineered magnetic core-shell structures. It is exemplified the use of suspension, emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization processes in order to support experimental methodologies required for the production of magnetic polymer particles intended for biomedical applications such as intravascular embolization treatments, drug delivery systems and hyperthermia treatment.