Work

Advanced finite element simulations for brain tumor hyperthermia using polycrystalline Fe3O4 superparticles with optimized thermal radiation control

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background Magnetic fluid hyperthermia using iron oxide nanoparticles holds promising approach for treating glioblastoma. However, conventional single-area nanoparticles face limitations in heating performance and retention in tumors, especially due to the particle length-superparamagnetic tradeoff. Polycrystalline Fe 3 O 4 super particles, clusters of ∼10–15 nm crystallites, hold superparamagnetic properties while dealing with specific absorption costs (SAR >250 W/g) at low doses. Objective : The main objective of this study is to computationally examine the efficacy of polycrystalline Fe 3 O 4 super particles in hyperthermia of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors, leveraging finite-element method (FEM) simulations to demonstrate thermal distributions in the tumor and adjacent brain tissues under alternating magnetic field (AMF) exposure. Furthermore, investigating the impact of constant, linear, quadratic, and cubic heat sources for the best heat source in hyperthermia of Glioblastoma. Methodology Geometry and model setup with a 2D Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis representing a GBM tumor embedded in brain tissue will be discretized in COMSOL Multiphysics. The nanofluid flow and heat transfer through tissue are solved for concentration and temperature quantitatively. Results Super particle-mediated heating generates temperatures of 37–46 °C within clinically applicable AMF strengths. The heat generated by the MNPs is directly proportional to the frequency and amplitude of the applied magnetic field. Spatial and temporal temperature patterns from the simulation are better generated for the cubic heat source compared to the remaining heat sources. Conclusions : FEM-primarily based thermal simulations demonstrate that polycrystalline Fe 3 O 4 super particles can set off powerful and selective hyperthermia in GBM models. These MNPs are capable of damaging up to 95–99 % of the tumor. Recommendation: The integration of excessive SAR materials with realistic physiological modeling informs nanoparticle dose planning and AMF parameter optimization, representing a good-sized step toward translational hyperthermia protocols for glioblastoma treatment in real-time cancer treatments in hospitals.

Source: Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.1016/j.jrras.2025.101916