The effect of irradiation on the properties of some ferrofluids used in hyperthermia

Summary form only given. The treatment of cancer, in its present form, implies the corroboration of several therapeutic methods, including the hyperthermia. In general, the latter does not provide a therapy by itself, but is used rather as a complementary part during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The scientific literature proves that the degradation of the stabilizing coating of nanoparticles from ferrofluids, due to biochemical processes, can in general lead to a degradation of the magnetic energy-heat converter properties; this may lead to an inefficiency of the ferrofluid use for oncologic hyperthermia. Starting from these considerations, we decided to investigate the behaviour of a medical ferrofluid infiltrated in a tumor and exposed to gamma-ray treatment. The study followed the effect of ferrofluid irradiation with doses specific to the intensive therapy. The ferrofluids studied were obtained by chemical precipitation of the magnetite, its dispersion in kerosene or in water and the stabilization with oleic acid or with dodecyl amine, respectively.