Synthesis of high heating doped magnetic nanoparticles and unravelling of their heating effect on cancer biology for effective treatment

Cancer has a major impact on society. Around 392,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK (2020-2021) (https://www.macmillan.org.uk/).

Magnetic nanoparticles have been widely investigated for their great potential as mediators of heat for localised hyperthermia therapy. Nanocarriers have also attracted increasing attention due to the possibility of delivering drugs at specific locations, therefore limiting systematic effects. [1]

We have recently demonstrated that iron oxide nanoflowers provide 3 times higher heating rates, than any commercially available nanoparticle alternative. This is attributed to the flower-like shape for the iron oxide nanostructrures [2, 3]. 

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have already been recognized as biocompatible by FDA, and currently they are the best candidate nanoscale materials for magnetic hyperthermia (MH). MH therapy has been approved by FDA for MagForce AG for the focal ablation of intermediate-risk prostate cancer using their NanoTherm® therapy system. In Europe, the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Fuenlabrada University Hospital are conducting a new feasibility study on treating locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with IONPs.

It is very important to understand the thermal effect of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer biology. Hyperthermia evaluation for these nanoclusters In-vitro 3D cell spheroid will be performed. We will focus on heating efficiency to determine the heat dose of iron oxide flower-like nanostructures, and doped analogues in alternating magnetic fields for potential cancer treatment agents. 

The student will carry out different aspect of the project.

Synthesis and characterisation of doped-Nanomaterials 

This will be performed following our protocol [2], the synthesised nanomaterials will be comprehensively characterised and compared to undoped IONFs for heating efficiency. The correlation of the structure and chemical composition to the functional properties of the IONFs will be characterised.

Loading of IONFs with Chitosan

Therefore, we will use biocompatible chitosan to functionalise our doped IONFs according to an established protocol developed in our lab.

The stability of nanomaterials will be assessed at different concentration to assess at what concentration of the materials will be stable and also the stability over time will be determined.

In-vitro studies

Cancer cell lines will be used to assess the effects of IONFs on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis. 3D cancer models will also be created from healthy or cancer cells, and employed to further investigate the effectiveness of the IONFs.

1.           Hervault A., and Thanh, N. T. K* (2014) Magnetic Nanoparticles-Based Therapeutic Agents for Thermo-Chemotherapy Treatment of Cancer. Nanoscale, 6: 11553-11573.

2.           Storozhuk, L., Besenhard M. O., Mourdikoudis, S., LaGrow, A. P., Lees, M.R., Tung, L. D., Gavriilidis, A., Thanh, N. T. K* (2021) Simple and Fast Polyol Synthesis of Stable Iron Oxide Nanoflowers with Exceptional Heating Efficiency. Journal of Applied Materials and Interface. 13: 45870−45880.

3.           Storozhuk, L., Besenhard, M. O., Gavriilidis, A. and Thanh, N. T. K. (2021) Multi-core magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles.  UK Patent Application No. 2108250.8