Magnetic hyperthermia in oncology: Nanomaterials-driven combinatorial strategies for synergistic therapeutic gains

Cancer cures remain limited with conventional treatments due to tumor microenvironment (TME)-driven resilience and systemic toxicity. Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT), which utilizes magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to convert alternating magnetic field (AMF) energy into localized heat, has emerged as a minimally invasive and spatially precise strategy for tumor ablation. This review critically examines the evolution of MHT from its historical roots to cutting-edge combinatorial strategies. The unique advantages of MHT over other hyperthermia modalities are firstly analyzed, highlighting its ability to synergize with the hypoxic and acidic TME for enhanced tumor cell susceptibility. In addition, the pathophysiological mechanisms of cell death induced by MHT were summarized in detail. Next, MHT-optimized nanomaterials are systematically classified based on their heating efficiency, biodistribution, and functionalization strategies for tumor targeting. A key focus lies in elucidating the multimodal therapeutic synergy between MHT and established oncology treatments:(photothermal therapy [PTT], radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy) and analyzed the clinical translational bottlenecks of each combination. Finally, the review delineates the translational roadmap of MHT by addressing key bottlenecks in clinical adoption, including AMF device standardization, long-term MNP biosafety, and scalable nanomanufacturing. This work provides a nano-biomaterials perspective to guide the rational design of next-generation MHT platforms for precision oncology.