HYPOTHESIS:
It is hypothesized that an electro spun magnetic nanofiber implant, on applying alternating magnetic field, will produce the heating necessary for the deployment of thermosensitive liposomes without damaging healthy tissue and can be used for repeated treatments.
Collaborating with a fellow student, it was born from witnessing the incidences of cancer in our personal lives.
METHODOLOGY:
This brings us to our project. Our aim is to design an implantable device for optimization of magnetic hyperthermia for deployment of thermo-sensitive liposomes for chemotherapy drug delivery. Made of electro spun magnetic nanofibers (which are fibers loaded with magnetic nanoparticles), the implant is designed to be positioned on a solid tumor. We chose to use magnetic nanofibers due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and porosity, allowing them to bind to tissue better, and due to the efficiency and flexibility of the production process, which gives us great control over the dimensions of the implant.
FINDINGS:
Using the parameters as shown, we simulated the temperature and associated cell death at multiple points inside the tumor. These parameters were obtained from previous research on brain tumors. It was found that on applying an alternating magnetic field of strength 40kA/m and frequency 300kHz, the implant can destroy 70 % of the 10mm wide tumor within 30 mins. Within 2-4 subsequent treatments (depending on how they are spaced out and how fast the tumor is growing), the tumor is predicted to be completely eliminated.
CONCLUSION:
We are optimistic that in the next few years there will be a dramatic improvement in the outcomes of patients with cancer with increasing implementation of precision medicine by reducing harm to healthy organs and thus improving their quality of life.
This was our chosen topic for our school’s most prestigious research competition. Studying global developments in cancer treatment, we found that chemotherapy had dire consequences. Our idea was to create a biodegradable and nontoxic implant using magnetic nanotechnology to kill only the tumour cells via targeted heat diffusion. We visited the National Physical Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and simulated the diffusion process, replicating the human body’s environment to derive predictions under the guidance of Dr S.P Singh, Principal Scientist. The study is currently still in progress.
