Drug/Dye‐Loaded, Multifunctional Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Combined Targeted Cancer Therapy and Dual Optical/Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract
A biocompatible, multimodal, and theranostic functional iron oxide nanoparticle is synthesized using a novel water‐based method and exerts excellent properties for targeted cancer therapy, and optical and magnetic resonance imaging. For the first time, a facile, modified solvent diffusion method is used for the co‐encapsulation of both an anticancer drug and near‐infrared dyes. The resulting folate‐derivatized theranostics nanoparticles could allow for targeted optical/magnetic resonance imaging and targeted killing of folate‐expressing cancer cells.