Parameter ranges and limitations on using gold nanoparticles for radio frequency-based hyperthermia treatment of cancer

• Published in: URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium (Online) pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Dalarsson, Mariana, Svendsen, Brage Boe, Rana, Balwan
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: International Union of Radio Science 19.08.2023
• Subjects: Fluids; Gold; Heating systems; Hyperthermia; Nanoparticles; Optical losses; Radio frequency
• ISSN: 2642-4339
• DOI: 10.23919/URSIGASS57860.2023.10265576

In recent years, several researchers and research groups have proposed and studied a novel method of using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for radio frequency (RF) hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Such a method is occasionally described as a very promising new method for cancer treatment, without the side effects that are typical for other radiation treatments. It is well established that optical heating of AuNPs is caused by localized surface plasmon resonances. However, the physical mechanism behind RF heating of AuNP-fed biological tissue is a subject of some controversy. It is believed that the applied RF radiation drives the AuNPs into resonant oscillation, leading to relatively high dielectric losses, such that Joule and inductive heating is found to be negligible. In the present paper, we therefore perform an in-depth investigation of the parameter ranges and limitations that exist for the proposed methods of using AuNPs for RF hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Thereby, we show that a number of claims made so far about the potential of the proposed method are uncertain, and require further quantitative investigation.