title: EGFR-targeted magnetic nanoparticle heaters kill cancer cells without a perceptible temperature rise.
abstract: It is currently believed that magnetic nanoparticle heaters (MNHs) can kill cancer cells only when the temperature is raised above 43 °C due to energy dissipation in an alternating magnetic field. On the other hand, simple heat conduction arguments indicate that in small tumors or single cells the relative rates of energy dissipation and heat conduction result in a negligible temperature rise, thus limiting the potential of MNHs in treating small tumors and metastatic cancer. Here we demonstrate that internalized MNHs conjugated to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and which target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) do result in a significant (up to 99.9%) reduction in cell viability and clonogenic survival in a thermal heat dose dependent manner, without the need for a perceptible temperature rise. The effect appears to be cell type specific and indicates that magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields may effectively kill cancer cells under conditions previously considered as not possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, P.O. Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creixell
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bohórquez
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres-Lugo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D053758:Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors