Nanoparticle-mediated Hyperthermia in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

A small rise in tumor temperature (hyperthermia) makes cancer cells more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy. The means of achieving this is not trivial, and traditional methods have certain drawbacks. Loading tumors with systematically asministered energy-transducing nanoparticles can circumvent several of the obstacles to achieve tumor hyperthermia. However, nanoparticles also face unique challenges prior to clinical implementation. This article summarizes the state-of-the-art current technology and discusses the advantages and challenges of the three major nanoparticle formulations in focus: gold nanoshells and nanorods, superparamagnetic iron oxide particles and carbon nanotubes.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was funded in part by NIH grants KL2 RR024149 05, 1R21CA133691–01, 1R01CA132032 and U01CA151886 to Sunil Krishnan. 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.