ABSTRACT
Based on earlier understanding that heat can be used to kill cancer cells, nanoparticle thermotherapy (NPTT) provides a new approach to deliver lethal amounts of heat to cancer cells while keeping surrounding tissues at lower temperatures. NPTT is based on exciting of magnetic nanoparticles, which are placed in or near cancer cells by means of an externally applied alternating magnetic field (AMF). NPTT overcomes problems of earlier thermotherapy, also referred to as hyperthermia (tissue temperature > 40°C–41°C), which was often spatially rather unspecific in its heat delivery and, therefore, limited in the amount of heat deliverable to the cancer by the effects of heat on the surrounding tissues. Thermotherapy is a physical therapy, and is typically combined with chemo- and radiation therapy.
