Effect of ring-shaped clusters on magnetic hyperthermia: modelling approach

Experiments demonstrate that magnetic nanoparticles, embedded in a tissue, very often form heterogeneous structures of various shapes and topologies. These structures (clusters) can significantly affect macroscopical properties of the composite system, in part its ability to generate heat under an alternating magnetic field (so-called magnetic hyperthermia). If the energy of magnetic interaction between the particles significantly exceeds the thermal energy of the system, the particles can form the closed ring-shaped clusters. In this work, we propose a relatively simple model of the heat production by the particles united in the 'ring' and immobilized in a host medium. Mathematically, this model is based on the phenomenological Debye equation of kinetics of the particles remagnetization. Magnetic interaction between all particles in the cluster is taken into account. Our results show that the appearance of the clusters can significantly decrease the thermal effect. This article is part of the theme issue 'Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 1)'.