Abstract
Here, we review the characteristics and synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and place these in the context of their usage in the immunomagnetic enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). The importance of the different characteristics is explained, the need for a very specific enrichment is emphasized and different (commercial) magnetic separation techniques are shown. As the specificity of an MNP is in a large part dependent on the antibody coated onto the particle, different strategies in the coupling of specific antibodies as well as an overview of the available antibodies is given.