The magnetic nanoparticles are typically made from iron oxide, which is fully biodegradable, using methods such as coprecipitation or microemulsion.
The nanoparticles are then combined with gene vectors (DNA, siRNA, ODN, virus, etc.). One method involves linking viral particles to magnetic particles using an avidin-biotin interaction. Viruses can also bind to the nanoparticles via hydrophobic interaction.
Another synthesis method involves coating magnetic nanoparticles with cationic lipids or polymers via salt-induced aggregation. For example, nanoparticles may be conjugated with the polyethylenimine (PEI), a positively charged polymer used commonly as a transfection agent. The PEI solution must have a high pH during synthesis to encourage high gene expression. The positively charged nanoparticles can then associate with negatively charged nucleic acids via electrostatic interaction.