title: Novel magnetic heating probe for multimodal cancer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multifunctional materials consisting of polymers and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are highly sought after in the field of biomedical engineering. These materials offer new opportunities for the development of novel cancer treatment modalities that can increase the efficacy of cancer therapy. In this paper, a novel probe for multimodal cancer treatment is proposed and analyzed. The probe is essentially a cannula with two main parts: a distal heat generating tip made of a magnetic nanocomposite and a proximal insulated shaft.
  
  
  METHODS
  A description of the concept and functional operations of the probe is presented. In an effort to assess its feasibility, the authors evaluated the ability of probe tip (made of PMMA-Fe3O4 nanocomposite) to generate heat in biological tissue using alternating magnetic field (AMF) parameters (field strength and frequency) that are acceptable for human use. Heat generation by MNPs was determined using the linear response theory. The effects of Fe3O4 volume fraction on heat generation as well as treatment time on the thermal dose were studied. The finite element method model was tested for its validity using an analytical model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesions were revealed to have an ellipsoidal shape and their sizes were affected by treatment time. However, their shapes remained unchanged. The comparison with the analytical model showed reasonably a good agreement to within 2%. Furthermore, the authors' numerical predictions also showed reasonable agreement with the experimental results previously reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' predictions demonstrate the feasibility of their novel probe to achieve reasonable lesion sizes, during hyperthermic or ablative heating using AMF parameters (field strength and frequency) that are acceptable for human use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwabena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kan-Dapaah
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544; and Princeton Institute for Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM), Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544.
authors.forename: Wole
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Soboyejo
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate