The in vivo performance of biomagnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in cancer hyperthermia therapy

Hyperthermia therapy for cancer has drawn more and more attention these days. In this study, we conducted an in vivo cancer hyperthermia study of the new magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by a mouse model. The magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were first made by co-precipitation method with the addition of Fe2+. Then, magnetic-HAP powder (mHAP) or pure HAP powder (HAP) was mixed with phosphate buffer solution (PBS), respectively. The mixture was injected around the tumor. In order to achieve hyperthermia. the mice were placed into an inductive heater with high frequency and alternating magnetic field. Only the mice which were injected with mHAP and had been treated inside the magnetic field showed dramatic reduction of tumor volume, in the 15-day observation period. No local recurrence was noted. The blood test of mice proved that mHAP powders possessed good biocompatibility and little toxicity when injected subcutaneously. Therefore, our new magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles have demonstrated therapeutic effect in a mouse model with little toxicity. Further study should be done before its application inside the human body. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.