Multifunctional cancer targeting nanoparticles include a magnetic central core including gold coated iron oxide, an outer layer including trimethyl chitosan microspheres and folic acid and a linker between the central core and the outer layer, the linker including cysteamine. An anti-cancer drug can be supported by the outer layer. The multifunctional cancer targeting nanoparticle can provide simultaneous cancer cell diagnosis and therapy. An amount of heat and an amount of the anti-cancer drug released by the nanoparticle can be controlled by application of a magnetic field.
