To fight against cancer, smarter drugs and drug delivery systems are required both to boost the efficiency of current treatments while reducing deleterious side effects, and combine diagnosis/monitoring with therapy (theranosis) in the search for the final goal of personalized medicine. This work presents the design, preparation, and proof‐of‐principle validation of a novel hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite joining together non‐invasive imaging capabilities through magnetic resonance imaging and externally actuated therapeutic properties through a combination of chemo‐ and thermotherapy. The lipidic matrix of the nanocomposite was composed of carnauba wax, which was simultaneously dual loaded with magnetite nanoparticles and the anticancer drug Oncocalyxone A. Obtained formulations were fully characterized and showed outstanding performances as T2‐contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (r2>800 mm−1 s−1), heat generating sources in magnetic hyperthermia (specific absorption rate, SAR>200 W g−1Fe), and magnetically responsive drug delivery vehicles. The potential of the designed formulations as theranostic agents was validated in vitro and results indicated a synergistic thermo/chemotherapeutic effect derived from heat generation and controlled drug delivery to cancer growth. Thereby, this external control over the drug delivery profile and the integrated imaging capability open the door to personalized cancer medicine and real‐time monitoring of tumor progression.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of enhancing the solubilisation capacity of micellar solutions of Pluronic F127 for the poorly water-soluble drug griseofulvin by co-formulating with a water-soluble polymer. The effect of the addition of the polyethylene glycols PEG6000 and 35000, and the poly(vinylpyrrolidone)s PVP K30 and K90, on the solubilisation capacity of 1wt% solutions of Pluronic F127 was related to the effect of these additives on particle size as determined by dynamic light scattering measurements. The addition of PEG35000 to 1wt% F127 solutions significantly increased the solubility capacity expressed in terms of unit weight of F127; PVP K90 had a smaller effect but no enhancement was noted following the addition of PEG6000 or PVP K30. Solubilisation enhancement was thought to be a consequence of the association of the polymers with the E-blocks of the micelle corona so providing an expanded region of reduced polarity for drug solubilisation.

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Theranostic magnetic wax nanocomposite vehicles were synthesized through a safe‐by‐design approach which simultaneously incorporated magnetic nanoparticles and the anticancer drug Oncocalyxone A. The obtained formulation showed outstanding performance as a T2‐contrast agent in MRI and offered a synergistic thermo/chemotherapeutic effect in vitro derived from heat generation by magnetic hyperthermia and controlled drug delivery over cancer growth. This external control over the drug delivery profile and the integrated imaging capability open the door to personalized cancer medicine and real‐time monitoring of tumor progression. More information can be found in the Full Paper by M. Bañobre‐López et al. on page 4531.