Nanoscale thermal phenomena in the vicinity of magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields

Magnetic nanoparticles can be made to dissipate heat to their immediate surroundings in response to an applied alternating magnetic field. This property, combined with the biocompatibility of iron oxide nanoparticles and the ability of magnetic fields to penetrate deep in the body, makes magnetic nanoparticles attractive in a range of biomedical applications where thermal energy is used either directly to achieve a therapeutic effect or indirectly to actuate the release of a therapeutic agent. Although the concept of bulk heating of fluids and tissues using energy dissipated by magnetic nanoparticles has been well accepted and applied for several decades, many new and exciting biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles take advantage of heat effects that are confined to the immediate nanoscale vicinity of the nanoparticles. Until recently the existence of these nanoscale thermal phenomena had remained controversial. In this short review we summarize some of the recent developments in this field and emerging applications for nanoscale thermal phenomena in the vicinity of magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields.