Microwave hyperthermia versus nanosecond pulsed electric field for in vivo tumors applications

In this paper, two delivery systems based on microwave (MW) antenna and nsPEF electrodes employing, respectively, thermal and electrical effects for in vivo exposure of cancer tumors were characterized. To determine the efficiency of the devices, numerical and experimental electromagnetic dosimetry was performed. For the MW antenna, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) distribution was evaluated in equivalent tissue at 2.45 GHz. The exposed zone for a SAR higher than 50 W/kg was around 1-cm in size. For the nsPEF system, the electric field distribution was studied with an applied pulse of 10-ns duration and an amplitude of 6.1 kV. The electric field intensity obtained between electrodes was 16 MV/m.