Enhanced magnetic hyperthermia of copper ferrite nanoparticles for biomedical applications*

Magnetic hyperthermia is a promising cancer treatment that has minimal side effects compared to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles is central to the effectiveness of magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment and, while Copper is a well-known thermal conductor, little research has been done regarding its ability to increase the heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles. In this experiment, the heating efficiency of different samples of Copper Ferrite nanoparticles was quantified by dispersing the nanoparticles in a solution and measuring the solution’s temperature change over time in an alternating magnetic field. This method is common in the study of magnetic hyperthermia because it best replicates the experiment’s clinical applications. This experiment yielded a value of about 300 W/g for the heating efficiency of Copper Ferrite, which is significantly higher than the value of about 80 W/g obtained for Iron Oxide nanoparticles from previous experiments. These results suggest that Copper is a viable option for increasing the heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles and that Copper Ferrite nanoparticles are viable candidates for magnetic hyperthermia therapy.