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Magnetic Microspheres and Tissue Model Studies for Therapeutical ApplicationsHyperthermia is a well known cancer therapy and consists of heating a tumor region to the elevated temperatures in the range of 40-45 C for an extended period of time (2-8 hours). This leads to thermal inactivation of cell regulatory and growth processes with resulting widespread necrosis, carbonization and coagulation. Moreover, heat boosts the tumor response to other treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Of particular importance is careful control of generated heat in the treated region and keeping it localized. Higher heating, to about 56 C can lead to tissue thermo-ablation. With accurate temperature control, hyperthermia has the advantage of having minimal side effects. Several heating techniques are utilized for this purpose, such as whole body hyperthermia, radio-frequency (RF) hyperthermia, ultrasound technique, inductive microwave antenna hyperthermia, inductive needles (thermoseeds), and magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH).MFH offers many advantages as targeting capability by applying magnets. However, this technology still suffers significant inefficiencies due to lack of thermal control. This paper will provide a review of the topic and outline the ongoing work in this area. The main emphasis is in devising ways to overcome the technical difficulty in hyperthermia breast therapy of achieving a uniform therapeutic temperature over the required region of the body and holding it steady for an extended period (2-3 hours). The basic shortcomings of the presently utilized heating methods stem from the non-uniform thermal properties of the tissue and the point heating characteristics of the techniques without any thermal control. Our approach is to develop a novel class of magnetic fluids, which have inherent thermoregulating properties. We have identified a few magnetic alloys which can serve as suitable nano to micron-size particle material. The objective is to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the efficacy of Thermo Regulating Magnetic Fluids (TRMF) for hyperthermia therapy. The development of a tissue model and testing the fluid dynamics of particle motion, settling, distribution in the tissue matrix and heat generation will be discussed.
Document ID
20030106616
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ramachandran, N.
(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL, United States)
Mazuruk, K.
(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Microgravity Transport Processes in Fluid, Thermal, Biological, and Materials Sciences Conference III
Location: Davos
Country: Switzerland
Start Date: September 14, 2003
End Date: September 19, 2003
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC-866
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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