Smart Bone Graft Composite for Cancer Therapy Using Magnetic Hyperthermia

Magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) is a therapy that uses the heat generated by a magnetic material for cancer treatment. Magnetite nanoparticles are the most used materials in MHT. However, magnetite has a high Curie temperature (Tc~580 °C), and its use may generate local superheating. To overcome this problem, strontium-doped lanthanum manganite could replace magnetite because it shows a Tc near the ideal range (42–45 °C). In this study, we developed a smart composite formed by an F18 bioactive glass matrix with different amounts of Lanthanum-Strontium Manganite (LSM) powder (5, 10, 20, and 30 wt.% LSM). The effect of LSM addition was analyzed in terms of sinterability, magnetic properties, heating ability under a magnetic field, and in vitro bioactivity. The saturation magnetization (M_s) and remanent magnetization (M_r) increased by the LSM content, the confinement of LSM particles within the bioactive glass matrix also caused an increase in Tc. Calorimetry evaluation revealed a temperature increase from 5 °C (composition LSM5) to 15 °C (LSM30). The specific absorption rates were also calculated. Bioactivity measurements demonstrated HCA formation on the surface of all the composites in up to 15 days. The best material reached 40 °C, demonstrating the proof of concept sought in this research. Therefore, these composites have great potential for bone cancer therapy and should be further explored.