In magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for cancer treatment, controlling the heat distribution and temperature elevations is an immense challenge in clinical applications. In this study we evaluate magnetic nanofluid transport and heat distribution induced by commercially available magnetic nanoparticles injected into the extracellular space of biological tissue using agarose gel with porous structures similar to human tissue. The nanofluid distribution in the gel is examined via digital images of the nanofluid spreading in the gel. A radio-frequency electromagnetic field is applied to the gel following the nanofluid injection and the initial rates of temperature rise at various locations are measured to obtain the specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution. By adjusting the gel concentration and injection flow rate, the results have demonstrated that a relatively low injection rate leads to a spherically shaped nanofluid distribution in the gels which is desirable for controlling temperature elevations. The SAR distribution shows that the nanoparticle distribution in the gel is not uniform with a high concentration of the nanoparticles close to the injection site. We believe that the experimental study is the first step towards providing guidance for designing better treatment protocol for future clinical applications.

Among a variety of hyperthermia methods, magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia is a highly promising approach for its confined heating within the tumour. In this study we perform in vivo animal experiments on implanted prostatic tumours in mice to measure temperature distribution in the tumour during magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia. Temperature elevations are induced by a commercially available ferrofluid injected via a single injection to the centre of the tumour, when the tumour is subject to an alternating magnetic field. Temperature mapping in the tumours during magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia has demonstrated the feasibility of elevating tumour temperatures higher than 50°C using only 0.1 cm(3) ferrofluid injected in the tumour under a relatively low magnetic field (3 kA/m). Detailed 3-D nanoparticle concentration distribution is quantified using a high-resolution microCT imaging system. The calculated nanoparticle distribution volume based on the microCT scans is useful to analyse nanoparticle deposition in the tumours. Slower ferrofluid infusion rates result in smaller nanoparticle distribution volumes in the tumours. Nanoparticles are more confined in the vicinity of the injection site with slower infusion rates, causing higher temperature elevations in the tumours. The increase in the nanoparticle distribution volume in the tumour group after the heating from that in the tumour group without heating suggests possible nanoparticle re-distribution in the tumours during the heating.

A three-dimensional model is developed in this study to examine the transient and steady state temperature distribution in the brain during selective brain cooling (SBC) and subsequent rewarming. Selective brain cooling is induced through either wearing a cooling helmet or packing the head with ice. The ischemic region of the brain is simulated through reducing the blood perfusion rate to 20% of its normal value. The geometric and thermal properties and physiological characteristics for each layer, as well as the arterial blood temperature, are used as the input to the Pennes bioheat equation. Our data suggest that rapid cooling of the brain gray matter can be achieved by SBC on the head surface (26 min for adults versus 15 min for infants). Suboptimal thermal contact between the head surface and the coolant in most commercially available cooling helmets is suspected to be the main reason for delayed cooling in SBC as compared to the ice packing. The study has also demonstrated that the simulated 3 degrees C/h passive rewarming rate by exposing the head to room temperature after removing the source of cooling may be too rapid.

Mild or moderate hypothermia (>30 degrees C) has been proposed for clinical use as a therapeutic option for achieving protection from cerebral ischaemia in brain injury patients. In this research, a theoretical model was developed to examine the brain temperature gradients during selective cooling of the brain surface after head injury. The head was modelled as a hemisphere consisting of several layers, representing the scalp, skull and brain tissue, respectively. The dimensions, physical properties and physiological characteristics for each layer, as well as the arterial blood temperature, were used as the input to the Pennes bioheat transfer equation to simulate the steady-state temperature distribution within the brain. Depending on the head surface temperature, a temperature gradient of up to 13 degrees C exists in the brain tissue. The results have shown that the volumetric-averaged brain tissue temperature Tbt,avg for adults and infants can be 1.7 and 4.3 degrees C, respectively, lower than the temperature of the arterial blood supplied to the brain tissue. The location where the probe should be placed to measure Tbt,avg was also determined by the simulation. The calculation suggests that the temperature sensor should be placed 7.5mm and 5.9 mm beneath the brain tissue surface for adults and infants, respectively, to monitor Tbt,avg continuously.

In magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for cancer treatment, controlling the nanoparticle distribution delivered in tumors is vital for achieving an optimum distribution of temperature elevations that enables a maximum damage of the tumorous cells while minimizing the heating in the surrounding healthy tissues. A multi-scale model is developed in this study to investigate the spatial distribution of nanoparticles in tissues after nanofluid injection into the extracellular space of tissues. The theoretical study consists of a particle trajectory tracking model that considers particle-surface interactions and a macroscale model for the transport of nanoparticles in the carrier solution in a porous structure. Simulations are performed to examine the effects of a variety of injection parameters and particle properties on the particle distribution in tissues. The results show that particle deposition on the cellular structure is the dominant mechanism that leads to a non-uniform particle distribution. The particle penetration depth is sensitive to the injection rate and surface properties of the particles, but relatively insensitive to the injected volume and concentration of the nanofluid.