# Precision magnetic hyperthermia by integrating magnetic particle imaging

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $677,029

## Abstract

Precision magnetic hyperthermia by integrating magnetic particle imaging
Magnetic activation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) offers considerable potential for numerous
biomedical applications. Approved clinical applications include contrast enhancement for magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) and magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) for cancer treatment. MIONPs are T2 negative contrast
agents which have been clinically available for MRI since the late 1980s where very low tissue concentrations
(<100 g Fe/g tissue) are needed for imaging. MFH is a powerful nanotechnology-based treatment that enhances
radiation therapy (RT). It comprises local heating of tissue by activating MIONPs with an external alternating
magnetic field (AMF), enabling treatment anywhere in the body. Human clinical trials demonstrated benefits of
MFH for prostate cancer; and, overall survival benefits with RT in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) resulted in
European approval in 2010. However, current MFH effectiveness is limited by the inability to visualize MIONP
distribution during MFH, resulting in poor AMF control of MIONP heating, reduced therapeutic efficacy, and
unwanted off-target toxicity. An integrated MIONP imaging-MFH technology that provides spatial control of the
MFH treatment volume will substantially advance the clinical use of theranostic MIONPs. Magnetic particle
imaging (MPI) is an emerging imaging technology that directly quantitates MIONP concentration in tissue with
similar or greater sensitivity as MRI. The main magnet in an MPI scanner produces a strong magnetic field
gradient containing a region where the magnetic field is approximately zero, i.e. the Field Free Region (FFR).
MIONPs in the FFR are magnetically unsaturated and can produce a signal in a receiver coil, while MIONPs
elsewhere are magnetically saturated and produce no signal. Images are produced by rastering the FFR across
the sample. The FFR used for imaging can be used to localize MFH. By applying a magnetic field gradient and
AMF, only MIONPs inside the FFR will heat while MIONPs outside the FFR are saturated and do not heat. MPI
and MFH are compatible enabling mm-precision spatial control of MFH. Our objective is to develop an integrated
MPI/MFH workflow that incorporates imaging-guided treatment planning with optimal theranostic MIONPs for
preclinical biomedical research with small animal (mouse and rat) models. We aim to achieve our objectives by
purchasing a HYPER AMF system that will be used with our recently acquired Momentum MPI scanner (funded
by a S10 shared instrumentation grant). Our specific aims are: (Aim 1) Identify MIONPs having ideal physical
and magnetic properties for MPI/MFH; (Aim 2) Develop MPI-guided MFH treatment using computational
modeling and amplitude modulation; (Aim 3) Demonstrate increased therapeutic efficacy of theranostic
MPI/MFH in vivo. While the primary objective of the proposed effort is technology development, successful
completion of the aims will...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10296182
- **Project number:** 1R01CA257557-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeff W. Bulte
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $677,029
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10296182

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10296182, Precision magnetic hyperthermia by integrating magnetic particle imaging (1R01CA257557-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10296182. Licensed CC0.

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