Magnetic nanoparticles help destroy cancer cells

Magnetic nanoparticles can be used to send vibrations of 10 Hz to 20 Hz directly to cancer cells, triggering apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Researchers at INAC used disk-shaped nanoparticles that exert substantial mechanical force on the cells each time the direction of the magnetic field is inverted. Antibodies grafted onto the nanoparticles enable them to seek out at attach to the targeted cancer cells.
This highly original approach stands out from the other research in this field, which mainly focuses on generating heat at frequencies of several hundred KHz.
The researchers assessed two potential types of nanoparticle in the early phases of their research. The project is ongoing, most notably in the form of two kinetic studies several hours in duration that will help determine how to get maximum effectiveness out of the vibrations produced.

Contact: selma.leulmi@cea.fr

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