title: Enhanced radiation therapy with internalized polyelectrolyte modified nanoparticles.
abstract: A challenge of X-ray radiation therapy is that high dose X-ray under therapeutic conditions damages normal cells. This paper describes a nanoparticle-based method to enhance X-ray radiation therapy by delivering radio-sensitizing gold nanoparticles into cancer cells. The nanoparticles have been modified with cationic polyelectrolytes to allow internalization. Upon X-ray irradiation of nanoparticles, more photoelectrons and Auger electrons are generated to cause water ionization, leading to formation of free radicals that damage DNA of cancer cells. The X-ray dose required for DNA damage and cell killing is reduced by delivering gold nanoparticles inside cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts 01069, USA. msu2@wpi.edu lma2@wpi.edu.
authors.forename: Peipei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Chaoming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004573:Electrolytes; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017785:Photons; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004573:Electrolytes; D011108:Polymers; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D006046:Gold