Analysis of the Effects of Hyperthermia with Magnetic Nanoparticles on Cancer Tissues

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperthermia is one of the noninvasive methods of treating cancer. In this method, heat can be generated in several methods. One of these methods is injecting magnetic nanoparticles as a solution into the tumor site and place it in a magnetic field.

Methods: The study was analytical one, modeling was performed using computational methods, and in vitro experimental data were used as the boundary conditions. The problem was solved with a geometry consisting of different layers of skin, adjacent tissue, tumor and injection site and assuming axial symmetry. The problem was solved with a geometry consisting of different layers of skin, the adjacent tissue, the tumor and the injection site and assuming axial symmetry. The effect of different injection sites, effect of performing two injections with a smaller volume comparing with an injection with a large volume, and finally the effect of the injected solution on the temperature distribution of the tumor was investigated.

Results: Results showed that injections with a smaller volume of solution in different sites would have better results, so that more parts of the tumor would reach to a temperature above 42°c, which is the temperature needed for having cancer cells died. Injection with the temperature of 37°c would be more effective than injection at room temperature and reached the desired temperature in less time.

Conclusion: According to the novelty of this investigation in assuming data from empirical experiments on the solution containing cobalt ferrite nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol as the boundary condition of the problem in modeling, the study is an important step in a more precise prediction of the clinical conditions occurring through using these methods of hyperthermia.