Magnetohyperthermia applied to nanoparticles with garnet structure: funcionalization and encapsulation studies in thermosetting polymers

• Grant number: 18/07212-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Zirpoli Simões
• Grantee: Barbara Sartorelli Caldeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/10918-1 - Particle size and doping effect on structural and magnetic properties of yttrium iron garnets obtained in the hydrothermal microwave method, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Cancer is often the focus of attention in the scientific community because of its risk to the population. This is described by the disordered growth of cells that, when agglomerated, form tumors. In this way, in the last century some clinical procedures have been developed for cancer therapy. Nowadays, the main treatment employed is the removal of the tumor region combined with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy. In some situations, such as liver cancer, treatment by surgery and radiotherapy is limited. The development of the hyperthermia technique allowed new possibilities of treatment, since combined with other techniques, it increases its effects. In hyperthermia, Y3Fe5-xAlxO12 nanoparticles are introduced into the tumor and heated by induction through a variable magnetic field at a moderate temperature (~ 42 ° C).These particles are known for their interesting physical properties, such as high saturation magnetization and controllable Curie temperature, appearing as a promissing candidate. However, the high cytotoxicity of the particles require the employment of encapsulation techniques that leads to biocompatible properties. Therefore, the focus of this proposal is to encapsulate the functionalized nanoceramics in epoxy resins. Due to its properties, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured with diamines allows to transport the nanoparticles to the tumor region. The polymer system with polycrystalline particles will be prepared via heterogeneous phase polymerization and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and absorption spectroscopy in the infrared (FT-IR) region. The main focus of the present research is to investigate the desired conditions to applied the whole system in hyperthermia for hepatocarcinoma treatment.