Enhancement of chemotherapy effects by non-lethal magneto-mechanical actuation of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Remote magneto-mechanical actuation (MMA) of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) is emerging as a promising therapy method in oncology. However, translation to the clinic faces the challenge of whole-body action and the reluctance about indiscriminate mechanical action of the nanoparticles on tumor and healthy cells. Here, we show how the MMA method based on magnetically-rotated gold-coated MNP boosts only the activity of an unbound antitumor drug, without physical damage of cells via MNP. Therefore, in clinical practice, the effect of antitumor drug can be safely increased systemically while maintaining drug concentrations at current doses.