Evaluation of (HfO₂) nanoparticles in controlled medical hyperthermia processes

Currently, most treatments to combat cancer involve the use of chemo therapies whose side effects are important, complicating the patient's health and quality of life. In recent years, new treatments to combat this disease have focused on the use of metallic nanoparticles with optical and electrical characteristics, appropriate to achieve good compatibility in the body. These nanoparticles are the vehicle that takes advantage of the surface plasmon to absorb infrared radiation, dissipating it into phonons that heat the surrounding cells. This procedure called Medical Hyperthermia can induce a local increase in temperature until the thermal destruction of cells is obtained in a very precise and localized manner. This manages to control the tumor without appreciable damage to the tissues surrounding it. In the present work, the synthesis of (HfO₂) nanoparticles, suitable for hyperthermia, is detailed by the precipitation method using (NaOH) and (HfCl₄) as precursors in concentrations of 0.8 M (50 ml) and 0.1 M (50 ml), respectively. The size of the nanoparticles was evaluated by dynamic light scattering and a distribution of diameters around 50 nm was found, appropriate for cellular internalization. Likewise, the optical absorption spectrum showed a band centered at 645 nm, confirming the hydrodynamic radius and at the same time allowing excitation with visible and infrared wavelengths that affect cell integrity very little. These physical properties give this nanoparticle system the ability to be used as platforms in controlled medical hyperthermia processes. (author)