Scientists attached the peptide triptorelin to tiny iron‑oxide particles coated with PEG, loaded them with the chemo drug doxorubicin, and used a magnetic field to heat them. In lab tests on lung and breast cancer cells, the combined heat‑plus‑drug treatment killed most of the cells, more than either heat or drug alone, and also raised an immune signal. The work shows a promising way to deliver cancer drugs more precisely, but it’s still early‑stage lab research, not a ready‑to‑use protocol for everyday health optimization.

Magnetic nanoparticle-based targeted hyperthermia, combined with chemotherapy, is a promising approach for cancer treatment. In this study, a targeted magnetic drug delivery system was developed, comprising doxorubicin (DOX), a [D-Trp6] luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) (Triptorelin) ligand, and a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated magnetite core, aiming to enhance cancer therapy efficacy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the conjugation of LHRH onto the PEG-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was employed to assess drug loading, revealing a loading efficiency of 66%. The DOX-loaded, LHRH-tagged PEG-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects on A549 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines under three treatment modalities: thermotherapy, chemotherapy, and combined thermo-chemotherapy, both with and without the application of a magnetic field. Cell viability was assessed using the 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In A549 cells, the combined thermo-chemotherapy treatment at a DOX concentration of 10 μg/ml resulted in an 88% reduction in cell viability, outperforming chemotherapy alone (62%) and thermotherapy alone (47%). Similarly, in MCF-7 cells, the combined treatment at 8 μg/ml DOX led to a 91% reduction in viability, surpassing the effects of chemotherapy (57%) and thermotherapy (45%) individually. Additionally, the targeted DOX-loaded nanoparticles significantly elevated interferon-gamma production, indicating an enhanced immune response and increased cancer cell apoptosis.