Morphology-dependent magnetic hyperthermia characteristics of Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) represents an innovative approach to cancer treatment, harnessing the therapeutic capabilities of magnetic nanoparticles. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are often considered ideal candidates for MHT because of their biocompatibility. However, the clinical application of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is hindered by their low heating efficiency and concerns regarding potential toxicity linked to the high concentrations required to achieve therapeutic effects. In this study, two unique structures, hollow spherical and nanoflower Fe₃O₄, were successfully synthesized to enhance their magnetothermal conversion efficiency. The results indicate that Fe₃O₄ nanoflowers exhibit an intrinsic loss power (ILP) value of 6.52, which is 1.83 times greater than the ILP of hollow spherical Fe₃O₄ (3.55), indicating its enhanced potential for MHT applications. The COMSOL simulation demonstrated that higher magnetic field frequencies and intensities elevate tissue temperature and damage in tumor cells, particularly at 100 kHz and 400 kHz, with tumor tissue damage scores rising to 0.28 and 0.93, respectively. Shorter heating durations, such as 6 min, minimize harm to healthy tissue and are ideal for treatments requiring multiple sessions. After 12 min, tumor scores rose to 0.85, while normal tissue scores were 0.34, suggesting that longer durations improve therapeutic effects on tumors but also heighten the risk to healthy cells. This research provides a scientific foundation for selecting materials in the context of MHT for cancer treatment, potentially paving the way for more effective and safer therapeutic strategies.