Gold nanoparticles, radiations and the immune system: Current insights into the physical mechanisms and the biological interactions of this new alliance towards cancer therapy.
Considering both cancer's serious impact on public health and the side effects of cancer treatments, strategies towards targeted cancer therapy have lately gained considerable interest. Employment of gold nanoparticles (GNPs), in combination with ionizing and non-ionizing radiations, has been shown to improve the effect of radiation treatment significantly. GNPs, as high-Z particles, possess the ability to absorb ionizing radiation and enhance the deposited dose within the targeted tumors. Furthermore, they can convert non-ionizing radiation into heat, due to plasmon resonance, leading to hyperthermic damage to cancer cells. These observations, also supported by experimental evidence both in vitro and in vivo systems, reveal the capacity of GNPs to act as radiosensitizers for different types of radiation. In addition, they can be chemically modified to selectively target tumors, which renders them suitable for future cancer treatment therapies. Herein, a current review of the latest data on the physical properties of GNPs and their effects on GNP circulation time, biodistribution and clearance, as well as their interactions with plasma proteins and the immune system, is presented. Emphasis is also given with an in depth discussion on the underlying physical and biological mechanisms of radiosensitization. Furthermore, simulation data are provided on the use of GNPs in photothermal therapy upon non-ionizing laser irradiation treatment. Finally, the results obtained from the application of GNPs at clinical trials and pre-clinical experiments in vivo are reported.
Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos M
NM
Dimitriou
Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 115 27, Athens, Greece.
George
G
Tsekenis
Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Evangelos C
EC
Balanikas
Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 115 27, Athens, Greece.
Athanasia
A
Pavlopoulou
Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Ellison Building A516, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom.
Melina
M
Mitsiogianni
Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Ellison Building A516, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom.
Theodora
T
Mantso
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
George
G
Pashos
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Andreas G
AG
Boudouvis
Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Ioannis N
IN
Lykakis
Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Georgios
G
Tsigaridas
Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Ellison Building A516, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom.
Mihalis I
MI
Panayiotidis
Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Vassilios
V
Yannopapas
Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: alexg@mail.ntua.gr.
Alexandros G
AG
Georgakilas
D000818:Animals; D057890:Epigenomics; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D006046:Gold
Cancer therapy; Gold nanoparticles; Hyperthermia; Immunotherapy; Ionizing radiation; Laser