How can magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles help track cancer spread through lymph nodes?

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Gold and palladium alloy nanoparticles — nanoparticle Image showing nanoparticles of an alloy of gold (yellow) and palladium (blue) on an acid-treated carbon support (gray). These particles were employed as catalysts for the formation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen (white) and oxygen (red).

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are used to track the spread of cancer through lymph nodes by serving as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).1

These particles, which are composed of superparamagnetic iron oxide, exploit changes in image contrast to help clinicians visualize the presence of cancer cells within the lymphatic system. By providing a non-radioactive alternative to traditional methods like the use of technetium, these nanoparticles enhance the diagnostic capabilities of MRI. Beyond tracking, these same particles can also be utilized for therapeutic purposes; when subjected to an alternating magnetic field, they can generate local heat to destroy tumor tissue through a process known as hyperthermia.1