Agglomeration of magnetic nanoparticles and its effects on magnetic hyperthermia

Abstract

Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) is a promising approach for organ-confined tumor treatment. In MFH, magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are magnetically targeted at the tumor site and heated in an alternating magnetic field. The heat produced by the MNP is used to cause tumor cell death. At the tumor site, MNP bind to the cell membrane and form agglomerates before they are internalized into the intracellular compartments. Intracellular immobilization and the formation of agglomerates influence heating properties of MNP making it difficult to control the local heating inside the tumor. In this study, we investigated MNP agglomerated samples for their heating efficiency. We found an increase in heating of 22 % upon agglomeration. If MNP are additionally immobilized, however, the heating decreases by 30 %. Consequently, due to the binding of bigger MNP agglomerates at cellular level, heating efficiency inside tumors is assumed to decrease.

Keywords

• magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles
• magnetic fluid hyperthermia
• nanoparticle agglomeration