Magnetic nanoparticles for nanowarming: seeking a fine balance between heating performance and biocompatibility

Abstract

Regenerative medicine has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing transplant options for patients suffering from tissue disease or organ failure. Cryopreservation offers a promising solution for long-term tissue and organ storage, but the challenge of rewarming cryopreserved biological samples without damaging them by fatal ice crystallization and thermal cracks remains. Nanowarming, a novel rewarming method that uses magnetic nanoparticles as heating agents, holds promise for addressing this challenge. However, the current designs of these nanoparticles need to be improved to balance their heating efficiency and biocompatibility. This paper discusses the need for designing magnetic nanoparticles that are both efficient and uniform in their heating while reducing their acute and chronic toxicity. By highlighting current challenges and potential solutions in achieving this balance, we envision that properly designed magnetic nanoparticles will enable efficient and safe nanowarming and address the critical issue of tissue and organ storage.