Non-invasive Radiofrequency Ablation of Malignancies Mediated By Quantum dots, Gold Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Various types of nanoparticles efficiently heat in radiofrequency fields, which can potentially be used to produce cancer cell cytotoxicity within minutes. Multifunctional and targeted nanoparticles have demonstrated effective cancer control in vivo without significant toxicity associated with radiofrequency field exposure. Importantly, animals treated systemically with targeted nanoparticles smaller than 50 nm demonstrate tumor necrosis after radiofrequency field exposure without acute or chronic toxicity to normal tissues. Likewise, the future holds great promise for multifunctional imaging as well as multimodality therapy with chemotherapeutic molecules and ionizing radiation sensitizing agents attached to nanoparticle constructs. However, the appropriate balance of safety and efficacy for diagnosis, therapy, and therapeutic monitoring with these nanoparticles remains to be fully elucidated.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Kristine Ash for assistance in preparation of this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Evan S Glazer is funded by the Medical Sciences Graduate Program, Department of Surgery, The University of Arizona. Steven A Curley is funded from National Cancer Institute (NIH U54 CA143837), The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The V Foundation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.