Iron-containing nanoparticles with double coating and their use in diagnosis and therapy

A method for the fabrication of a nanoparticle compound for use in diagnosis and therapy, the method comprising:

• mixing an iron-containing compound with a synthesis polymer in the presence of a base to create a first mixture, the synthesis polymer selected from the group consisting of dextran and derivatives of dextran;
• subjecting the first mixture to desorption to create a second mixture with an iron-containing core and a synthesis polymer coating, the second mixture having a polymer to iron weight ratio of 0.1:1;
• and
• non-covalently bonding a targeting polymer to the second mixture to create a nanoparticle compound comprising the iron-containing core surrounded by the synthesis polymer coating which is surrounded and enveloped by the targeting polymer coating, wherein the targeting polymer coating is not exposed to synthesis conditions.

A nanoparticle compound for use in diagnosis and therapy, the nanoparticle compound comprising:

• an iron-containing core comprising:
• an iron compound selected from the group consisting of magnetite and maghemite, and
• a plurality of non-iron metallic ions;
• a synthesis polymer coating the iron-containing core, the synthesis polymer having a weight ratio of 0.1 to 1.0 to the iron compound;
• and
• a targeting polymer non-covalently bonded to, and enveloping, the synthesis polymer to form a second coating, wherein the targeting polymer is not subject to synthesis conditions and has a weight that is between 0.5 times to 50 times the weight of the non-iron metallic ions.