Hotter nanoparticles will be able to do more damage across the cancer ecosystem // Photo: cancercenter.com .
The method developed by the researchers is only applicable to easily accessible tumors that can be reached with a hypodermic needle. For hard-to-reach tumors, intravenous injection of nanoparticles is required, but this usually results in only a small amount of them reaching the tumor. As a consequence, their heating potential is insufficient to cause damage to cancer cells. The results of the study are published on the resource “Science Daily”.
Reinforcing the new strategy
This discovery strengthens the position of the emerging field of sonodynamic therapy (CDT), a cancer treatment strategy that utilizes unique intratumoral chemical conditions. Compared to normal tissues, cancer cells tend to be much more acidic and contain higher levels of hydrogen peroxide.
Traditional CDT uses these tumor conditions to stimulate the formation of hydroxyl radicals. These reactive oxygen species damage cancer cells through oxidation, stripping electrons from important components such as proteins, fats, and DNA.
Newer CDT approaches have also successfully generated singlet oxygen inside tumors. Singlet oxygen is a reactive form of oxygen that has a higher energy compared to its stable state.
Breakthrough after heating at 6°C
Scientists have been working on a technology to inject heated magnetic nanoparticles into tumors for several years, but the problem was its low efficiency – the temperature of conventional magnetic particles does not exceed +44°C near the tumor. This temperature can be enough to affect cancer cells only if there are enough particles around them.
To enhance the effect of the technology, the researchers created magnetic nanoparticles that can heat up to +50°C in the tumor environment. Such particles have a core and an outer shell made up of different components. The particles have a core of magnetite (Fe3O4) and a shell of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), which gives them excellent heating efficiency.
The researchers expressed confidence that the new method can be used to synthesize different nanoparticles with different shell and core. This could serve as a basis for the development of new nanoparticles with high heating characteristics, which will contribute to the further development of systemic magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment.
