Porous silicon nanoparticles as sensitizers for ultrasonic hyperthermia

Aqueous suspensions of porous silicon nanoparticles (NPs) with average size similar to 100 nm and concentration similar to 1 g/L undergo significant heating as compared with pure water under therapeutic ultrasonic (US) irradiation with frequencies of 1-2.5MHz and intensities of 1-20 W/cm(2). This effect is explained by taking into account the efficient absorption of US energy by NPs. The observed US-induced heating of biodegradable NPs is promising for applications in ultrasonic hyperthermia of tumors. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.