Microwave Selective Heating Enhancement for Cancer Hyperthermia Therapy Based on Lithographically Defined Micro/Nanoparticles

Hyperthermia therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment that uses external electromagnetic fields to heat up the tumor region in order to preferentially weaken or kill cancer cells. However, achieving localized heating of the cancer tissue without damaging the nearby healthy tissue remains a challenge. This study proposes to use lithographically defined micro/nanoparticles as microwave absorbers to achieve localized heating under microwave radiation for hyperthermia therapy. The particle structures, including both geometry and material, have been designed, tested, and optimized by the finite element method using Ansoft HFSS to obtain high microwave absorption efficiency. Based on the numerical studies, the magnetic dipoles have been chosen as the microwave-absorbing particles. The fabrication and collection processes of the particles have been developed. The measurements in this study, based on particle-suspended hydrogel setup, have demonstrated that the micro/nanoparticles can absorb the external electromagnetic field efficiently and greatly enhance the localized heat generation compared to control groups without particles.