An Introduction to the Principles of Thermal Therapy for Cancer Using Magnetic Particles in Nanometer Scales

摘要

By combining the technique of generating time-varying and. alternating-directional magnetic field with the nanotechnology, a medical device (MD) for thermotherapy of cancer by using magnetic particles in nanometer scales was developed and legally marketed in Europe. In principle, MD of this kind could accomplish the ideal of noninvasive cancer therapy. The article introduced the major components of this kind of MD, the principles of exciting the magnetic particles in nanometer scales (MPNS) to generate heat, and the principles for the MPNS to selectively target the desired cancerous site, etc. The article also introduced and reviewed the risks this kind of MD would bring to the patients and to the operators.