Investigation of smart magnetic nanoparticles for the use in magnetic-field-induced hyperthermia treatment of cancer

The use of aqueous suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles, or ferrofluids, in the magnetic-field-induced hyperthermia (MFH) treatment of cancer has emerged as a possible low-side-effect alternative to standard chemo- and radiotherapy-based treatments. Typically, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are used for their relative biocompatibility; however, their high Curie temperatures ($T_{C}$ > 500 $^{\circ}$C) require external temperature monitoring as the fluids can easily heat to temperatures well above the desired 40 $^{\circ}$C – 60 $^{\circ}$C therapeutic window. To combat this problem, we propose the use of strontium-doped lanthanum manganate nanoparticles, La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$. These materials allow for the tuning, through strontium doping, of the Curie temperature within the desired therapeutic range. The synthesis and characterization of these nanoparticles by x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and magnetic calorimetry will be presented.