Design of Nanomaterial Based Antenna Applicators for Microwave Hyperthermia

Abstract

Nanomaterial based microwave hyperthermia presents an innovative cancer treatment therapy for focused heating of a malignant tissue overcoming the core issues of backward heating problem and non-spherical lesion size for temperature distribution. With radical advancement in the usage of nanomaterials in the field of biomedical research for nanomedicine and drug delivery there arises a need for exploring the biodegradable nanomaterials exhibiting the properties such as controlled, stimuli responsive release capabilities with excellent biocompatibility. Its utility in clinical applications and treatment therapies including imaging, cell targeting and thermal therapy is still under research. newline newlineThe hyperthermia treatment strategy is implemented either through microwave hyperthermia which often employs non-invasive applicators or through microwave ablation that commonly utilizes invasive applicators. The microwave frequencies reasonably decrease the tendency to overheat healthy tissues and leads to significant tissue penetration. But it has own challenges including lesser penetration rate, inaccurate targeting and non sphericity of ablation zone. The efficacy of hyperthermia treatment can however be enhanced through incorporation of nanomaterials that accelerates the transformation of microwave energy to therapeutic heating. Therefore, nanomaterial based applicator design offers promising research field in microwave hyperthermia treatment strategy to enable this paradigm. The key objective of the research work is to identify suitable nanomaterials based on their electromagnetic properties for developing the antenna applicators that overcome the existing challenges of microwave hyperthermia. newline