Nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia

Abstract This chapter presents a general view of the different aspects involved in the research on nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia therapeutic. After a short review of the most important requirements for magnetic nanoparticles to be used as local heaters for cancer therapy, the experimental parameters influencing the nanoparticles heating efficiency are presented and the method used by our research group to assess this parameter is described. Although magnetite and maghemite are by far the most explored magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia applications, other ferrites are also being investigated. The recent developments to improve the nanoparticles ability to act as nanoheaters, namely, new synthesis methods to obtain ferrite nanoparticles and core@shell nanostructures (with different magnetic phases), will be discussed, together with the hyperthermia efficiency results.