Recent advancements and clinical aspects of engineered iron oxide nanoplatforms for magnetic hyperthermia-induced cancer therapy

• Published in: Materials today bio 2024-12, Vol.29, p.101348, Article 101348
• Main Authors: Rajan, Arunima, Laha, Suvra S., Sahu, Niroj Kumar, Thorat, Nanasaheb D., Shankar, Balakrishnan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer therapy; Iron oxide; Lysosomal membrane permeabilization; Magnetic hyperthermia; Reactive oxygen species; Review
• ISSN: 2590-0064; 2590-0064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101348

The pervasiveness of cancer is a global health concern posing a major threat in terms of mortality and incidence rates. Magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) employing biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) ensuring selective attachment to target sites, better colloidal stability and conserving nearby healthy tissues has garnered widespread acceptance as a promising clinical treatment for cancer cell death. In this direction, multifunctional iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are of significant interest for improved cancer care due to finite size effect associated with inherent magnetic properties. This review offers a comprehensive perception of IONPs-mediated MHT from fundamentals to clinical translation, by elucidating the underlying mechanism of heat generation and the related influential factors. Biological mechanisms underlying MHT-mediated cancer cell death such as reactive oxygen species generation and lysosomal membrane permeabilization have been discussed in this review. Recent advances in biological interactions (in vitro and in vivo) of IONPs and their translation to clinical MHT applications are briefed. New frontiers and prospects of promising combination cancer therapies such as MHT with photothermal therapy, cancer starvation therapy and sonodynamic therapy are presented in detail. Finally, this review concludes by addressing current crucial challenges and proposing possible solutions to achieve clinical success. [Display omitted] •Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) mediated magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) are explored.•ROS generation and lysosomal membrane permeabilization are crucial in MHT-based cancer therapy.•Mechanisms underlying cellular interactions of IONPs for MHT are elaborated.•Up-to-date clinical studies and critical challenges of MHT are reviewed.•Multi-modal synergistic therapeutic strategies with MHT are highlighted.