Bioactive magnetic glass–ceramics for cancer treatment

Bioactive glasses and glass–ceramics are traditionally applied for bone regeneration due to their well-known ability to bind to bone tissue and promote its repair. Recently, their therapeutic potential has been extended to other applications, including the treatment of tumors. In fact, bioactive glasses can be functionalized with chemotherapy drugs and their composition can be tailored by introducing elements or phases useful for the treatment of tumors through hyperthermia. This chapter provides guidance on the use of magnetic hyperthermia and illustrates a broad overview of the magnetic and bioactive glasses and glass–ceramics investigated for the treatment of tumors, especially bone tumor, exploring the modulation of their composition and the different synthesis methods. Furthermore, this chapter presents the recent advances in tumor and its complication treatments through the use of innovative and multifunctional ceramic materials, thus opening new opportunities for targeted and effective tumor therapy.