Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) is a safe and alternative method for conventional treatments of cancer such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In MHT, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), well deposited in tumor, produce heat when they are exposed to a radio frequency magnetic field. If the heat generated is high enough to increase the tumor temperature to the range of 42-45℃, it can cause serious damage to cancerous cells. In this work, magnetite (〖Fe〗_3 O_4) nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment. In order to decrease cytotoxicity, the MNPs were coated by a biocompatible layer of hydroxycinnamic acid (caffeic acid). The heating power of MNPs was evaluated by calorimetric measurements at various field strengths and frequencies. The experimental results show that the specific loss power (SLP) of nanoparticles, defined as the heat generated per gram of magnetic nanoparticles at unit of time, is strongly depended on the field strength and frequency. In addition, a high value of SLP is obtained by caffeic acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles in a biologically safe alternating magnetic field. Since having a high SLP value is essential for decreasing MNPs dosage in cancer treatment, the achieved high heating efficiency by these MNPs confirms their competence for application in MHT.
