ANSTO comes up with nanoparticles that are capable of identifying intractable brain cancer in a combined therapy.
Gouri J S
credits: ANSTO News
Researchers at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has kicked in with an extensive investigation of a promising type of nanoparticles that are capable of identifying intractable brain cancers in a combined therapy.
The research work was published in Material Science and Engineering and was led by Dr. Moeava Tehei and researchers from University of Wollongong along with clinical partners. The properties of nanoparticles made from Lanthanum manganite doped with silver atoms was evaluated and studied. These nanoparticles were found to have synergistic effects and could be used in combination with radiation therapy, hyperthermia and their intrinsic toxicity to cancer cells. The most important aspect was that the biological effects of the nano and doped nanoparticles was toxic to cancer cells but not to the normal cells.
The researchers of ANSTO mainly studied the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles in addition to other methods of analysis. Magnetic properties are significant as it can be used to deliver the particles to the target site and in magnetic hyperthermia treatment. These were studied at two different temperatures because the magnetic properties of silver doped nanoparticles changes at different transition temperatures.
Dr. Kirrily Rule, a co-author on the paper, led investigations of magnetic and chemical changes to nanoparticles of silver-doped lanthanum manganite at two temperatures on the high-resolution powder diffractometer Echidna at ANSTO's Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering.
Although an expert in the magnetic behaviour of low-dimensional materials with quantum properties, Rule said," She was excited by the opportunity to change focus and assist in medical physics-related research".
The magnetism measurements on Echidna were performed at 10 Kelvin and 300 Kelvin. There is a critical temperature for hyperthermia treatment.
The results of magnetisation indicated that ordering of particles was more likely to be ferromagnetic, and this temperature when the magnetic moment aligned was higher when the percentage of silver was increased. So the amount of silver was found to be responsible for higher transition temperatures and the temperature range for hyperthermia treatment could be controlled by altering the doping percentages.
The most effective sample for cancer toxicity and hyperthermia was Lanthanum manganite doped with 10% concentration of silver. This maintained the level of ferromagnetism at 300 Kelvin. However, the selectivity and cancer toxicity shown by 5% doping combined with radiation was also found interesting.
The research was undoubtedly essential as it resulted in extensive study on the mechanism of doped nanoparticles releasing high levels of oxidative stress, toxic to cancer cells.