Characterization of Breast Cancer Radiofrequency Ablation Assisted with Magnetic Nanoparticles: <i>In Silico and in Vitro Study</i>

Abstract

The effectiveness of breast cancer ablation by radiofrequency (RF) has been associated to the capacity of concentrating the electromagnetic energy in the tumor region, our group has proposed that this condition could be modulated by appropriate RF exposure cycle times as well as modification of tissue electrical conductivity. The aim of this work was to evaluate analytical and experimental optimal exposure cycle times to induce tissue ablation by RF assisted with magnetic nanoparticles. The study was conducted both analytically by multiphysics simulation of the induced currents in cancer tissue given a magnetron source and experimentally by the observation of hyperthermic effects induced in agar phantoms by a magnetron device by the use of RF assisted with magnetic nanoparticles. The temperature showed significant increases in short periods of time, and was clearly higher under the condition with nanoparticles. Appropriate RF exposure cycle times as well as modification of tissue electrical conductivity by magnetic nanoparticles seems suitable factors to modulate the electromagnetic energy in tumoral regions.