We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

Skip to Content
University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo.
  • Search
  • Give
  • Library
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • UOW Global
    • Our global presence
    • UOW in Dubai
    • UOW in Hong Kong
    • UOW in Malaysia
  • Menu
  • Study at UOW

    • Courses
    • Apply
    • Scholarships & grants
    • Accommodation
    • High-school students
    • Non-school leavers
    • Postgraduate students
    • International students
    • Moving to Wollongong
    • Study abroad & exchange
    • Global sport programs
    • Campuses
    Study at UOW
  • Engage

    • Future student
    • Alumni
    • Visit UOW
    • Woolyungah Indigenous Centre
    • Volunteer
    • The Stand Magazine
    • Community Members
    • Grants and funding
    • Give to UOW
    • Visit the Library
    • Key contacts
    • Educators & school teachers
    Engage with us
  • About UOW

    • Welcome
    • Our people
    • Services
    • Contacts
    • What's on
    • Global presence
    • Media Centre
    • Faculties & schools
    • Our vision & strategy
    • Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Strategy
    • Our reputation & experience
    • Locations, campuses & partners
    See more about UOW
  • Research

    • Our research
    • Researcher support
    • Research impact
    • Partnership & collaboration
    • Graduate Research School
    • Commercial research
    • Global Challenges
    • Media, news & events
    • Find an expert
    • Our people
    See more about research
  • Industry

    • Generator Lab
    • Advantage SME
    • Success stories
    • Industry research engagement
    • Equipment & Labs
    • Funding opportunities
    • Intellectual property
    • Collaboration for business
    • Collaboration for researchers
    See more about Industry
  • Alumni

    • Benefits
    • Outlook Magazine
    • Events & webinars
    • Volunteer
    • Awards
    • Honorary alumni
    • Testamurs & transcripts
    • Update your details
    • Your career journey
    • Contact us & FAQ
    See more about alumni
  • Quick links

    • Contact directory
    • Staff Intranet
    • Campus maps
    • Transport & parking
    • Key dates
    • Events
    • Password management
    • Jobs
    • Accommodation
    • Policy directory
  • Library
You are here More Pages
  • Home
  • About UOW
  • Media Centre
  • 2021
  • Promising new therapy for inoperable brain cancers

Media Quick Links

  • Contact UOW Media
  • Visiting campus
  • Image library
  • UOW key facts
  • Find an expert
  • News Corp subscription
  • Sign up for the latest news from UOW Media

April 13, 2021


  • Photo By
  • Paul Jones
Share
Type
General News
Category
Science and Technology
Tags
Health & MedicinePhysicsResearchScienceSDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

UOW in the News

Promising new therapy for inoperable brain cancers

Magnetic nanoparticle could be used in combination with radiation treatment and heat therapy to kill cancer cells


Australian scientists have made progress on a potential new approach that could be used to treat some of the most deadly brain cancers.

A new magnetic nanoparticle could be used in combination with radiation treatment and heat therapy to kill cancer cells, according to new research from the University of Wollongong and ANSTO. 

The lead researchers from UOW and its clinical partners collaborated with ANSTO’s Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering to study the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles.

Head of Targeted Nano-Therapies at UOW’s Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, Dr Moeava Tehei says he investigates nanoparticles because they have many advantages as a cancer treatment, including the ability to cross the blood brain barrier, an issue that prohibits other therapies.

“Importantly, the biological effects of the nanoparticles were toxic to cancer cells, but not normal cells,” Dr Tehei said.

“This is a promising potential approach that could be used in a combination therapy to target some of the most aggressive and deadly cancers in Australia.”

The study characterised nanoparticles from a compound called lanthanum manganite. Silver was added to the compound for the experiments. 

The magnetic properties are important because they enable the nanoparticles to target the cancer site and can be used in magnetic heat therapy.

ANSTO’s Instrument Scientist Dr Kirrily Rule, who is an Honorary Associate Professor of Physics at UOW and a co-author of the paper, supervised research into the magnetic and chemical changes of the nanoparticles. 

“We used our neutron instrument, Echidna, to see if the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles changed at different temperatures,” Dr Rule said.

This was important because there is a critical temperature region for magnetic heat treatment.

“What this means is we could potentially use these types of nanoparticles, in combination with other cancer treatments, to directly target deadly brain tumours,” Dr Rule said.

“I’ve been investigating magnetic materials for many years but being able to conduct experiments like this that could ultimately save lives was exciting.”

The collaborators from the University of Wollongong include researchers from the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, the School of Physics, the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience and the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials. 

Clinical partners included the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, and the Department of Radiation Oncology at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Media Contacts for this article

UOW Media Office

You may also be interested in

New project uses plastic waste for sustainable manufacturing of furnished homes
Online platform brings students and employers together
Celebrating five years of research excellence
Services & Help
  • Current students
  • Library
  • Information technology
  • Accommodation
  • Security & safety
  • Pool, gym & retail
News, Media & Events
  • Media Centre
  • The Stand
  • Alumni Magazine
  • Research news
  • Events
  • Find an expert
Faculties
  • Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
  • Business & Law
  • Engineering & Information Sciences
  • Science, Medicine & Health
Administration
  • Graduation
  • Environment
  • Policy directory
  • Learning and teaching
  • Financial Services
  • Access to information
  • Jobs
UOW Entities
  • Innovation Campus
  • UOW College Australia
  • UOW College Hong Kong
  • UOW in Dubai
  • UOW Global Enterprises
  • UOW Malaysia KDU
  • UOW Pulse
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Conversation
  • Contact us
  • Feedback
  • Give to UOW

Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia 
Phone: 1300 367 869 
International: +61 2 4221 3218 
Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555

  • NUW Alliance: Smarter Solutions for NSW
  • University Global Partnership Network (UGPN)
  • Reconciliation Australia
  • AWEI LGBTQ inclusion awards logo

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.

Copyright © 2023 University of Wollongong
CRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686
Copyright & disclaimer | Privacy & cookie usage | Web Accessibility Statement

Close