| Summary: | In this paper, we present a theoretical study on the maximum specific loss power in the admissible biological limit (P<sub>sM</sub>)<sub>l</sub> for CoFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrimagnetic nanoparticles, as a possible candidate in alternative and non-invasive cancer therapy by superparamagnetic hyperthermia. The heating time of the nanoparticles (Δt<sub>o</sub>) at the optimum temperature of approx. 43 °C for the efficient destruction of tumor cells in a short period of time, was also studied. We found the maximum specific loss power P<sub>sM</sub> (as a result of superparamegnetic relaxation in CoFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles) for very small diameters of the nanoparticles (D<sub>o</sub>), situated in the range of 5.88–6.67 nm, and with the limit frequencies (f<sub>l</sub>) in the very wide range of values of 83–1000 kHz, respectively. Additionally, the optimal heating temperature (T<sub>o</sub>) of 43 °C was obtained for a very wide range of values of the magnetic field H, of 5–60 kA/m, and the corresponding optimal heating times (Δt<sub>o</sub>) were found in very short time intervals in the range of ~0.3–44 s, depending on the volume packing fraction (ε) of the nanoparticles. The obtained results, as well as the very wide range of values for the amplitude H and the frequency f of the external alternating magnetic field for which superparamagnetic hyperthermia can be obtained, which are great practical benefits in the case of hyperthermia, demonstrate that CoFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles can be successfully used in the therapy of cancer by superaparamagnetic hyperthermia. In addition, the very small size of magnetic nanoparticles (only a few nm) will lead to two major benefits in cancer therapy via superparamagnetic hyperthermia, namely: (i) the possibility of intracellular therapy which is much more effective due to the ability to destroy tumor cells from within and (ii) the reduced cell toxicity.
|
|---|