Magnetic Chitosan Bionanocomposite Films as a Versatile Platform for Biomedical Hyperthermia

Responsive magnetic nanomaterials offer significant advantages for innovative therapies, for instance, in cancer treatments that exploit on-demand delivery on alternating magnetic field (AMF) stimulus. In this work, biocompatible magnetic bionanocomposite films are fabricated from chitosan by film casting with incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) produced by facile one pot synthesis. The influence of synthesis conditions and MNP concentration on the films' heating efficiency and heat dissipation are evaluated through spatio-temporal mapping of the surface temperature changes by video-thermography. The cast films have a thickness below 100 mu m, and upon exposure to AMF (663 kHz, 12.8 kA m-1), induce exceptionally strong heating, reaching a maximum temperature increase of 82 degrees C within 270 s irradiation. Further, it is demonstrated that the films can serve as substrates that supply heat for multiple hyperthermia scenarios, including: i) non-contact automated heating of cell culture medium, ii) heating of gelatine-based hydrogels of different shapes, and iii) killing of cancerous melanoma cells. The films are versatile components for non-contact stimulus with translational potential in multiple biomedical applications. The strong heating efficiency of magnetic chitosan bionanocomposite films, with thickness below 100 mu m, is studied by video thermography under alternating magnetic field (AMF). High hyperthermia (MH) efficiency and precise temperature control using AMF are demonstrated by MH treatment of MNT-1 cells. The cell's viability drastically decreases below 10%, 48 h after a single AMF cycle of 10 min.image

Automated summary

This study explores the heating effect and potential applications of biocompatible magnetic bionanocomposite films under stimulation conditions. The results demonstrate that these films have efficient heating performance and can be used in various hyperthermia scenarios, including heating cell culture medium, gelatine-based hydrogels, and killing cancer cells.