Izbrane teme sodobne fizike in matematike

Superparamagnetni nanodelci in njihova uporaba v magnetni hipertermiji

Hipertermija predstavlja pomembno metodo zdravljenja v medicini, saj omogoča učinkovitejše zdravljenje rakavih obolenj. Zaradi možnosti selektivnega pregrevanja tkiva se vse bolj uveljavlja magnetna hipertermija z nanodelci. Princip delovanja temelji na pregrevanju tkiva zaradi magnetnih izgub, ki so posledica Néelove in Brownove relaksacije. Kako učinkovito je pregrevanje nam pove stopnja specifične absorpcije. Z ustrezno izbiro jakosti in frekvence magnetnega polja, ter uporabo nanodelcev ustreznih dimenzij, lahko dosežemo zelo visoke temperature (v nekaterih poskusih tudi do 60 ◦ C). Magnetni nanodelci so splošno uporabni ne samo za zdravljenje s hipertermijo, temveč tudi kot nosilci zdravil. Ker je za uporabo v medicini potrebno zadostiti številnim kriterijem, se magnetne hipertermije zaenkrat še ne uporablja pri zdravljenju.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles and their use in magnetic hyperthermia

Hyperthermia is an important medical method for more efficient cancer treatment. Magnetic hyperthermia with nanoparticles enables localized heating of the treated tissue, which makes this method attractive. The method is based on heat generated by magnetic losses, due to Néel and Brown relaxation. The heating efficiency is defined by Specific Absorption Rate. With precisely selected strength and frequency of the magnetic field as well as the size of nanoparticles, very high tissue temperatures can be achieved (in certain cases even up to 60 ◦ C ). In addition to hyperthermia magnetic nanoparticles can be used also as a medium for drug delivery. Due to high standards in medicine magnetic hyperthermia with nanoparticles is not yet used in medical treatment.