Magnetic nanoparticles for intracranial thermotherapy.

Thermotherapy using magnetic nanoparticles, also termed nanotherapy, is a new therapeutic concept in which tumor cells are damaged via local heat application. The principle of this method is direct injection of a magnetic fluid into a tumor and its subsequent heating in an alternating magnetic field. The heat created this way (thermotherapy) causes either direct damage to the tumor cells (depending on temperature and reaction time) or make cells more susceptible to accompanying radio- or chemotherapy. The results of a feasibility trial (phase I) on the treatment of brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme) are presented.