@article {dias_biotechnological_2011,
	title = {A biotechnological perspective on the application of iron oxide magnetic colloids modified with polysaccharides},
	journal = {Biotechnology Advances},
	volume = {29},
	number = {1},
	year = {2011},
	note = {<p>{PMID:} 20959138</p>
},
	pages = {142{\textendash}155},
	abstract = {<p>Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles {(MNPs)} alone are suitable for a broad spectrum of applications, but the low stability and heterogeneous size distribution in aqueous medium represent major setbacks. These setbacks can however be reduced or diminished through the coating of {MNPs} with various polymers, especially biopolymers such as polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are biocompatible, non-toxic and renewable; in addition, they possess chemical groups that permit further functionalization of the {MNPs.} Multifunctional entities can be created through decoration with specific molecules e.g. proteins, peptides, drugs, antibodies, biomimetic ligands, transfection agents, cells, and other ligands. This development opens a whole range of applications for iron oxide nanoparticles. In this review the properties of magnetic structures composed of {MNPs} and several polysaccharides {(Agarose}, Alginate, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Dextran, Heparin, Gum Arabic, Pullulan and Starch) will be discussed, in view of their recent and future biomedical and biotechnological applications.</p>
},
	keywords = {Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology, Colloids, Ferric Compounds, Humans, Magnetite Nanoparticles, Polysaccharides},
	issn = {1873-1899},
	doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2010.10.003},
	url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20959138},
	author = {Dias, A M G C and Hussain, A. and Marcos, A S and Roque, A. C. A.}
}
