Scientists at Oregon State University have invented a way to make magnetic nanoparticles that are better at fighting cancer.
When exposed to an alternating magnetic field, the OSU College of Pharmacy's thermal decomposition method can produce nanoparticles that can reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Small Methods.
Scientists say that magnetic nanoparticles have anti-cancer potential. Particles as small as one billionth of a meter are exposed to an alternating magnetic field inside a tumor. Exposure to the field can cause the nanoparticles to heat up, weaken or destroy the cancer cells.
Olena Taratula said that magnetism shows promise for the treatment of cancer. It has the ability to either kill cancer cells directly or enhance their susceptibility to radiation.
Oleh Taratula said that magnetic hypothermia can only be used for patients with tumors that can be accessed by a hypodermic needle.
He said that the therapeutic temperatures can only be achieved by direct injection into the tumors. The nanoparticles have moderate heating efficiency, which means you need a high concentration of them in the tumors to generate enough heat. It's a challenge to get high concentration because only a small percentage of systemically injected nanoparticles accumulate in tumors.
A new chemical manufacturing technique resulted in magnetic nanoparticles with more heating efficiency. When exposed to an alternating magnetic field, the particles can rise in temperature to 50 degrees.
Olena Taratula said that this is the first time it's been proven that magnetic nanoparticles can increase the temperature of cancer tissue. We showed that our method could be used to synthesise various core-shell nanoparticles. It could be used as a starting point for the development of novel nanoparticles with high heating performance.
She said that core-shell nanoparticles have an inner and an outer shell. The unique properties of core and shell material are what researchers are interested in.
Along with Olena and Oleh Taratula, the collaboration included College of Pharmacy researchers.
Ananiya A. Demessie is the author of An Advanced Thermal Decomposition Method to Produce Magnetic nanoparticles with high heating efficiency. The smtd. 202200916 is published by the smtd.
Journal information: Small Methods
All Rights Reserved © 2024
