Could heated nanoparticles help treat cancer?

Scientists have developed "intelligent" nanoparticles that can heat up to kill cancerous cells, but stop before they harm healthy tissue.

Researchers at the University of Surrey said the self-stopping nanoparticles could be used as part of a cancer treatment known as hyperthermic-thermotherapy. This works by heating tumour cells to between 42-45°C, but relies on accurate temperature control.

Working with colleagues at the Dalian University of Technology in China, academics at Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute created nanoparticles which could induce temperatures of up to 45°C.

The particles, which are made of zinc, cobalt and chromium, are self-regulating so they automatically stop when they reach higher than 45°C, and they are low in toxicity and unlikely to cause permanent damage to the body.

Wei Zhang from Dalian University of Technology said the development could reduce the difficulties of temperature control which have restricted the use of such treatments. “If we can modulate the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles, the therapeutic temperature can be self-regulated, eliminating the use of clumsy temperature monitoring and controlling systems.”  

Certain materials lose their permanent magnetic properties above a certain temperature known as the Curie temperature. The key to the work was creating materials with a Curie temperature within the acceptable range of the human body, so that their magnetic properties could be controlled and the self-regulating behaviour enabled.

“This could potentially be a game changer in the way we treat people who have cancer,” said Ravi Silva, head of the Advanced Technology Institute at Surrey. “If we can keep cancer treatment set at a temperature level high enough to kill the cancer, while low enough to stop harming healthy tissue, it will prevent some of the serious side effects of vital treatment."