Co-Fe nanowires: a viable strategy for destroying cancer cells via a magnetomechanical effect

Abstract This study explores the potential use of Co-Fe nanowires for the targeted destruction of cancer cells through a magnetomechanical effect. This research specifically focuses on the impact of nanowire composition, size, and magnetic properties on their efficacy in inducing cell death. Co-Fe nanowires, chosen for their high saturation magnetization and shape anisotropy, were tested against human osteosarcoma cells (HOS) and normal human fibroblasts (NHDF). The results demonstrated that Co-Fe nanowires could significantly reduce the viability of cancer cells through magnetomechanical actuation while having a less pronounced effect on normal cells. These findings suggest that Co-Fe nanowires (NWs) could be a viable tool in cancer therapy, leveraging their magnetic properties to target and destroy malignant cells selectively.