Physical and Cellular Basis of Oncologic Magnetic Thermotherapy

GHILINI, FIORELA; TASSO, MARIANA; FERNANDEZ VAN RAAP, MARCELA

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Materials Research Forum LLC

Año: 2023; p. 102 - 139

Magnetic thermotherapy (MT) for treating solid tumors employs magnetic hyperthermia(MH) protocols. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles -nowadays considerednanomedicines- are delivered to the tumor to induce temperature elevations upon theapplication of an external alternating magnetic field in the radiofrequency range. Thistreatment activates cell death pathways and sensitizes cells to other cancer therapies. Muchinformation is available on magnetic materials preparation and functionalization, physicalrelaxation mechanisms behind magnetic heating, and designed devices for field generationand magnetic material tracking, but further insight is still needed about the nature andcharacteristics of the cellular response to MH. In this chapter, the physical foundations ofMT are thoroughly discussed and complemented by a general overview of the cellularresponses induced to counteract the various sources of stress associated with thistechnology.