CNRS chemists have studied the properties and effectiveness of iron oxide nanoparticles as potential agents for magnetic hyperthermia. This promising cancer treatment technique consists of locally destroying cancer cells with nanoparticles heated by a magnetic field.
Certain original structures, such as “nanoflowers” have optimal magnetic properties for this medical application.
Iron oxide nanoparticles are widely studied for their potential as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but also as mediators of heat for themagnetic hyperthermia. This news therapy targeted cancer uses alternating magnetic fields to heat nanoparticles, causing local destruction of cancer cells. Iron oxide nanoparticles, in particular, exhibit magnetic properties suited to this pathway therapeutic. A team of scientists from the Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory and the Institute of Chemistry of matter condensed from Bordeaux (CNRS/Bordeaux INP/University of Bordeaux), with the help of the PLACAMAT platform (CNRS/University of Bordeaux), synthesized several batches of nanoparticles with sizes between 10 and 30 nm and variable structures.
They analyzed the relationship between size, structure and magnetic properties using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and magnetometry. The performance of nanoparticles in magnetic hyperthermia was evaluated by measuring the rate ofabsorption specific, which represents the effectiveness of heating nanoparticles under alternating magnetic fields.
The study shows that the efficiency is maximum for 22 nm nanoparticles under certain alternating magnetic field conditions. Scientists also observed that nanoflower structures with multiple cores provide better magnetic performance, particularly under high amplitude fields.
This study, published in the journal ChemPhysChemopens the way to production at large scale nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Optimizing the synthesis routes for iron oxide nanoparticles could indeed make it possible to properly control their size and structure, and therefore their effectiveness for magnetic hyperthermia, with promising prospects for personalized treatments of certain cancers.
Editor: AVR
References:
Structure-function relationship of iron oxide nanoflowers: Optimal sizes for magnetic hyperthermia depending on alternating magnetic field conditions.
Megi Bejko, Yasmina Al Yaman, Auriane Bagur, Anthony C. Keyes, Patrick Rosa, Marion Gayot, François Weill, Stéphane Mornet, Olivier Sandre.
Chem Phys Chem 2024
https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202400023
