A New Cancer Therapy: Multi-application of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes for Magnetic Resonance Temperature Imaging Guided Laser Induced Thermal Therapy

In this work multi-application, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as super MR contrast agents and Near-Infared Radiation (NIR) laser absorbers are combined with Proton Resonance Frequency (PRF) based Magnetic Resonance Temperature Imaging (MRTI) to improve the safety and efficacy of Laser Induced Thermal Therapy (LITT). Instilled MWCNTs enable precise tumor localization and killing of the tumor through preferential high temperature while protecting surrounding healthy tissue by monitoring the 3D temperature distribution. As advanced MR contrast agents (CA), Fe-containing MWCNTs produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with 600mg Ferrocene, show up to 5 times greater efficiency in changing T2 relaxation properties compared to the clinical MR CA, Feridex. Thus, MWCNTs could be used potentially as a super heating generator and contrast agents in thermal ablation therapy.