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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Magnetic-, Acoustic-, and Optical-Triple-Responsive Microbubbles for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Pothotothermal Combination Cancer Therapy
Published on: May 22, 2020
Multifunctional graphene-based magnetic nanocarriers for combined hyperthermia and dual stimuli-responsive drug
Raquel O Rodrigues1, Giovanni Baldi2, Saer Doumett2
1Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal; Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
The synthesis of hydrophilic graphene-based yolk-shell magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with copolymer pluronic F-127 (GYSMNP@PF127) is herein reported to achieve an efficient multifunctional biomedical system for mild hyperthermia and stimuli-responsive drug delivery. In vitro tests revealed the extraordinary ability of GYSMNP@PF127 to act as smart stimuli-responsive multifunctional nanomedicine platform for cancer therapy, exhibiting (i) an outstanding loading capacity of 91% (w/w, representing 910 μg mg-1) of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, (ii) a high heating efficiency under an alternating (AC) magnetic field (intrinsic power loss ranging from 2.1-2.7 nHm2 kg-1), and (iii) a dual pH and thermal stimuli-responsive drug controlled release (46% at acidic tumour pH vs 7% at physiological pH) under AC magnetic field, in just 30 min. Additionally, GYSMNP@PF127 presents optimal hydrodynamic diameter (DH = 180 nm) with negative surface charge, high haemocompatibility for blood stream applications and tumour cellular uptake of drug nanocarriers. Due to its physicochemical, magnetic and biocompatibility properties, the developed graphene-based magnetic nanocarrier shows high promise as dual exogenous (AC field)/endogenous (pH) stimuli-responsive actuators for targeted thermo-chemotherapy, combining magnetic hyperthermia and controlled drug release triggered by the abnormal tumour environment. The presented strategy and findings can represent a new way to design and develop highly stable added-value graphene-based nanostructures for the combined treatment of cancer.
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