Metal–ferrite nanocomposites for targeted drug delivery

Abstract Targeted drug delivery has emerged as an astonishing medication methodology for direct treatment of the infected body organ, and it avoids the side effects caused to other healthy organs of human body. Due to the ability to carry an adequate drug concentration and release it directly to the organ to be treated, nanocomposite materials have proven to be a boon for targeted drug delivery. The present chapter aims to discuss the role of metal–ferrite nanocomposites in achieving the targeted drug delivery. This will include the elaboration of different synthesis methodologies of metal–ferrite nanocomposites along with their compositional flexibility as the synthesis route has a strong impact on the structure of nanocomposites. The performance of these nanocomposites toward drug release, as analyzed by different scientists through in vitro studies, has been discussed. The reported literature has been integrated to understand the conceptual concreteness of drug release attributes such as drug-loading efficiency, biocompatibility, drug solubility, and so on, as well as the optimization criteria. Each category of nanocomposites including nanoparticles, 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures has been explored with their unique attributes toward their drug carrying and drug release performance. Moreover, the chapter deals with the current advancement in drug delivery systems based on magnetic ferrite nanocomposites and possible future perspectives through a critical discussion of the loopholes that exist in present methodologies.