CANCER THERAPY USING MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

CANCER THERAPY USING MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

-A ReviewRashmi Rao B (rashmie.raoh@gmail.com ),

Roshna Rajan George (roshnageorges@gmail.com),

V1 Semester,B.E,Biotechnology

M.S Ramaiah Engineering College,

Bangalore -54

Abstract:Novel immunological treatment approaches are required that attack the molecular and biological features of invasive malignant tumors. The magnetic nanoparticle technique has emerged as a potential multifunctional clinical tool for cancer cell-specific detection, treatment, and monitoring. Current magnetic nanoparticle technology relies mostly on iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs).These particles are mostly made of a core of magnetite and coated with biocompatible vectors/stablizers generally suspended in a colloidal dispersion. The nanoparticles suspended in the magnetic fluid possess a magnetic moment which enables them to be stimulated by application of an alternating magnetic field. The nanoparticles absorb the energy of the magnetic field which is then released into the surrounding area as heat through magnetic relaxation processes to produce temperatures of between 41 C and 45 C (hyperthermia), or even higher temperatures of between 46 C and 70 C (thermo ablation). At temperatures above 46 C, virtually all biomolecules within the cells are affected, and the tumor cells containing the nanoparticles are directly destroyed as a result of overheating. The remains of the cells are then naturally broken down through normal bodily processes. The nanoparticles which are released from the destroyed cells are then either reabsorbed by surrounding tumor cells which are still intact or else eliminated by macrophages, part of the bodys immune system.

1 .Introduction:Scientists have learned that cancer is caused by changes in genes that normally control the growth and death of cells. Certain lifestyle and environmental factors can change some normal genes into genes that allow the growth of cancer. Many gene changes that lead to cancer are the result of tobacco use, diet, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, exposure to carcinogens or some gene alterations are inherited. Scientists continue to examine the factors that may increase or decrease a person's chance of developing cancer.

Cancer treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy. Generally one method or a combination of methods is used, depending on the type and location of the cancer, whether the disease has spread, the patient's age and general health, and other factors. Because treatment for cancer can also damage healthy cells and tissues, it often causes side effects.

Nanotechnology for cancer therapy:Conventional cancer therapies stated above employ drugs/radiation that are known to kill cancer cells effectively. But the limited accessibility to the tumor, the risk of operating on a vital organ, the spread of cancer cells throughout the body and the lack of selectivity toward tumor cells increases the probability of affecting healthy cells in addition to tumor cells, leading to adverse side effects such as nausea, neuropathy, hair-loss, fatigue, and compromised immune function. They risk damage to normal tissues or incomplete eradication of the cancer. Nanotechnology offers the means to aim therapies directly and selectively at cancerous cells. Here in our review we focus on a novel approach of targeting the cancer cells effectively by using magnetic nanoparticles.2.Magnetic Nanoparticles:Magnetic nanoparticles show remarkable new phenomena such as superparamagnetism, high field irreversibility, high saturation field, extra anisotropy contributions or shifted loops after field cooling. These phenomena arise from finite size and surface effects that dominate the magnetic behaviour of individual nanoparticles(8)Frenkel and Dorfman (2) were the first to predict that a particle of ferromagnetic material, below a critical particle size (