Magnetic nanoparticles in the shape of a cube sandwiched between two pyramids represent a breakthrough for treating ovarian tumors and possibly other types of cancer, say researchers.

Oregon State University researchers say the study underscores the importance of shape in magnetic nanoparticle design and that the findings will potentially revolutionise treatments that use heat to damage or kill cancer cells.

“With currently available magnetic nanoparticles, the required therapeutic temperatures – above 44^oC – can only be achieved by direct injection,” said Oleh Taratula, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and senior author of the latest study.

“And those nanoparticles have only moderate heating efficiency, which means you need a high concentration of them in the tumor – higher than systemic administration can usually achieve – to generate enough heat.”

The new nanoparticles show exceptional heating efficiency when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. When the particles accumulate in cancerous tissue after intravenous injection, they’re able to quickly rise to temperatures that weaken or destroy cancer cells.

That means an ovarian cancer patient could receive an intravenous injection and have her tumor stop growing following one 30-minute, non-invasive magnetic field session.

Because the particles’ heating efficiency is so strong, the necessary concentration of nanoparticles can be achieved without a high dosage, limiting toxicity and side effects.