Provided are a preparation method of iron oxide-based paramagnetic or pseudo-paramagnetic nanoparticles, iron oxide-based nanoparticles prepared by the same, and a T1 contrast agent including the same. More particularly, the disclosure describes a method for preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles having a extremely small and uniform size of 4 nm or less based on thermal decomposition of iron oleate complex, iron oxide-based paramagnetic or pseudo-paramagnetic nanoparticles prepared by the same, and a T1 contrast agent including iron oxide-based paramagnetic or pseudo-paramagnetic nanoparticles.

The invention provides a lipid bilayer mimicking the lipid composition of the placenta. The lipid composition provides an in vitro placenta model using the lipid composition of the placental cell membrane.

The invention provides a family of agents that target integrins, which can be used as imaging agents and/or therapeutic agents. The agents can be used to image angiogenesis, inflammation or other physiological processes in a subject.

The invention relates to an antitumor composition based on hydrophobized hyaluronan and inorganic nanoparticles stabilized by oleic acid. The hydrophobized hyaluronan in the form of an acylated hyaluronan serves in the composition as a carrier of inorganic nanoparticles. Out of the group of inorganic nanoparticles, the composition may comprise superparamagnetic nanoparticles, nanoparticles of ZnO and moreover, upconversion nanoparticles. Said composition is selectively cytotoxic with respect to both suspension and adherent tumor cell lines, especially with respect to tumor cell lines of colorectum carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, lung carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and breast adenocarcinoma. The highest cytotoxic effects were observed in case of the composition based on an oleyl derivative of hyaluronan with SPIONs. The composition of acylated hyaluronan with SPIONs may also be advantageously used for an in vivo detection of accumulation of the composition in the body, preferably in a tumor or in liver. Said composition is sterilizable in the final package.

A biocompatible magnetic material containing an iron oxide nanoparticle and one or more biocompatible polymers, each having formula (I) below, covalently bonded to the iron oxide nanoparticle: ##STR00001##
in which each of variables R, L, x, and y is defined herein, the biocompatible magnetic material contains 4-15% Fe(II) ions relative to the total iron ions. Also disclosed in a method of preparing the biocompatible magnetic material.

Dendronized metallic oxide nanoparticles, a process for preparing the same and their uses.