Magnetic nanoparticles are nanometric materials that can respond to external magnetic fields and convert electromagnetic energy into heat. This property makes them especially interesting for biomedical applications, including cancer therapy. In magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic nanoparticles can be delivered to a tumor and then exposed to an alternating magnetic field, producing a local temperature increase that can damage cancer cells and reduce their viability.
Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are particularly attractive because of their magnetic properties and potential biocompatibility. Moreover, they can be combined with other materials, such as gold or copper, to form hybrid nanostructures with additional optical, catalytic, or therapeutic functions. These multifunctional systems may allow the combination of different biomedical approaches, such as magnetic hyperthermia, photothermal therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Speaker: Lucía Pardinas del Águila (PhD candidate, Complutense University & IMDEA Nanociencia)