Magnetic microscale polymeric nanocomposites in drug delivery: advances and challenges

Magnetic polymeric nanocomposites are a modern class of materials in which magnetic nanoparticles are embedded in a polymeric matrix. This combination of magnetic responsiveness and tuneable properties bestows versatility on this class of polymer nanocomposite material, which has potentially broad applications in drug delivery, imaging, environmental remediation and beyond. This review covers the uses of magnetic polymeric nanocomposites in drug delivery, discussing magnetic micelles, magnetic liposomes, magnetic hydrogels, magnetic sponges, magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles, magnetic microrobots, magnetic elastomers and magnetic scaffolds. The focus is on the role that might be played by magnetic nanocomposites as an interface between the magnetic and polymeric domains in the establishment of a new generation of advanced materials.