Iron oxides open up new ways to treat cancer

The reason lay in the behavior of nanoparticles and a radical change in their magnetic properties in an alternating magnetic field. The results obtained confirm the possibility of using magnetic nanoparticles in cancer therapy and open up prospects for the introduction of such a treatment method into medical practice.

"This method of physical impact on the membranes of malignant cells is based on the use of magnetite nanoparticles with a size of 10-15 nanometers, having a thin golden shell or its fragments. It is noteworthy that the material of nanoparticles is magnetite – the main component of ordinary iron rust. Such magnetic nanoparticles, when placed in an external alternating magnetic field, begin to rotate along the direction of the field. The change of the field direction is accompanied by a half-turn of the nanoparticles.



At the same time, if the nanoparticle is fixed on the outer surface of the cell membrane or on the fibers of the intercellular elements of the exoskeleton, its rotation generates a mechanical pulling force transmitted to the transmembrane mechanoreceptors of the cell. It is the effect on mechanoreceptors, provided that the threshold value of the force is exceeded, that triggers apoptosis — programmed cell death. The results obtained confirm the possibility of successful application of the method for the highly effective treatment of malignant neoplasms, which opens up prospects for its introduction into medical practice," commented project coordinator Sergey Karpov, Doctor of Physico—Mathematical Sciences, Professor, leading researcher at the Institute of Physics. Kirensky SB RAS and the International Research Center for Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry of SFU.