Indian Researchers Develop Advanced Magnetic Nanoparticles to Enhance Cancer Therapy

New Delhi: A team of researchers from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a new class of magnetic nanoparticles with the potential to significantly enhance cancer treatment. Their work focuses on advancing a therapeutic approach known as magnetic hyperthermia, offering a promising alternative to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplants, which are often expensive and come with severe side effects.

The newly developed magnetic system leverages nanoparticles that can increase the temperature of tumor cells through the application of an external magnetic field. This process, termed magnetic hyperthermia, selectively heats cancer cells to around 46°C, leading to necrosis or the destruction of malignant cells, while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissues.

The IASST team aimed to overcome key challenges in the field by synthesizing nanocrystalline cobalt chromite magnetic nanoparticles doped with varying concentrations of rare-earth gadolinium (Gd) using the conventional co-precipitation method. These nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetic properties, meaning they can act as tiny heat generators—or “nano-heaters”—when exposed to an alternating magnetic field.

According to the scientists, the success of magnetic hyperthermia largely depends on several physical parameters of nanomagnets that influence their self-heating efficiency. One of the significant hurdles has been designing biocompatible nanoparticles that are efficient at generating the necessary heat without triggering adverse effects. The team's approach provides a way to control these properties effectively, thereby enhancing the feasibility of using such nanoparticles in clinical applications.

The innovation holds promise particularly in settings where traditional cancer treatments are inaccessible or unaffordable. By enabling precise, externally-controlled heating of tumors, the technique offers a targeted and less invasive alternative for cancer therapy.

These findings have been published in Nanoscale Advances, a peer-reviewed journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, highlighting the growing role of nanotechnology in developing next-generation treatments for complex diseases like cancer.