Kansas State University researchers are exploring the use of iron-iron oxide nanoparticle-induced hyperthermia to overheat or bore holes through cancerous tissue to kill it.

An organic coating attracts the cancer cells to the nanoparticles. An external alternating magnetic field then causes the particles to produce friction heat, which is transferred to the cancer cells’ surrounding proteins, lipids and water, creating little hotspots. With enough hotspots the tumor cells are heated to death, preserving the healthy tissue.

If the hotspots are not concentrated, the heat destroys the cell’s proteins or lipid structures, dissolving the cell membrane. This creates a hole in the tumor and essentially stresses it to death.

Dye enclosed in each nanoparticle’s encapsulating sphere is then severed by enzymes and used to mark cancerous masses within the body.

More info: Kansas State University news