Heat generation from magnetic fluids under alternating current magnetic field or induction coil for hyperthermia-based cancer therapy: Basic principle

Superparamagnetic particles (SUPs) have been used in many applications in the area of hyperthermia-based cancer treatment, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, as a carrier for drug, in the removal of toxic ions, etc. When SUPs are dispersed in liquid, they can experience Brownian motion and Neel's spin relaxations. In the presence of direct current magnetic field, SUPs do not show a hysteresis loop. Because of this, they are unable to produce heat. However, in alternating current magnetic field (AMF) of a few kHz and small magnetic fields, they can generate heat. For the treatment of cancer, hyperthermia temperature of 43°C is required, at which temperature cancer cells can be killed selectively, but normal cells can survive. The theory behind heat generation from SUPs in the presence of AMF will be discussed in this work.