Characterization of Fe-Co Ferrite Nanoparticles for Contrast Generation and Heat Therapy in Cancer

Sheikh Manjura Hoque¹, Yuegao Huang¹, Samuel Maritim¹, Daniel Coman¹, Fahmeed Hyder¹

Ferrite nanoparticles are used for contrast, but they also have potential for cancer therapy because nanoparticles can be heated by alternating RF. Since diamagnetic resonances are susceptibility-shifted with nanoparticles, temperature and/or pH mapping with typical MRI/MRS methods are difficult. To generate both tissue contrast and map temperature/pH in presence of nanoparticles, we used a new method called BIRDS, which requires that we detect protons emanating from a temperature/pH probe (e.g., TmDOTP5-) itself, instead of the agents effect on water proton relaxation times. Promising in vitro results from a family of Fe-Co mixed ferrite nanoparticles are discussed.