Engineering copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanosystems for medicine: a comprehensive review from design to biomedical applications

Abstract Biomedical micro/nanosystems are rapidly advancing toward integration of therapeutic and diagnostic nanoscale agents into unified platforms. Engineers still struggle to precisely control multiple functions in biocompatible designs. Copper ferrite (CuFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles represent a compelling material solution, combining structural versatility, magnetic responsiveness, and inherent catalytic activity within a single spinel ferrite framework. This review moves beyond a conventional materials catalog to critically analyze the engineering levers—synthesis techniques, ion doping, surface modification, and hybrid nanostructure design—that govern key physicochemical parameters and, in turn, downstream system performance. Through a comprehensive survey of the literature, we establish an engineering–property–application framework that links core characteristics (e.g., crystal structure, magnetic behavior, toxicity) to specific biomedical outcomes, including anticancer therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery, biosensing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, and antibacterial effects. This analysis positions CuFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles as multifunctional components for integrable theranostic micro/nanosystems and delineates critical research gaps in long‑term in vivo safety, scalable synthesis, and clinical translation, thereby providing a foundational resource for advancing nanomedicine.