Cisplatin drug delivery using gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for enhanced tumour targeting with external magnetic fields

► Gold-coated iron nanoparticles have been synthesised. ► The active component of cisplatin has been attached to the nanoparticles. ► The nanoparticles are highly cytotoxic in the ovarian carcinoma cell lines A2780 and A2780/cp70. ► The nanoparticles can be controlled/moved by a magnetic field. ► The results demonstrate an ability to direct drugs in the body thus reducing drug side effects.