Magnetic properties of the ferrimagnetic glass-ceramics for hyperthermia

Magnetic materials play a key-role in magnetic induction hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer. In this paper, we analyse the magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic glass-ceramics with the composition in the system SiO(2)-Na(2)O-CaO-P(2)O(5)-FeO-Fe(2)O(3), as a function of the melting temperature. These materials were obtained by melting of commercial reagents in the temperature range of 1400-1550 degrees C. Room-temperature magnetic measurements were performed by means of a vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature. The power loss was determined from calorimetric measurements, using a magnetic induction furnace. The highest power loss (61 W/g) has been obtained for samples melted at 1500 degrees C. The heat generation of the ferrimagnetic glass-ceramics prepared by two different synthesis methods (traditional melting and coprecipitation-derived) will be compared. These materials are expected to be useful in the localised treatment of cancer. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.