Physical basis and biological mechanisms of gold nanoparticle radiosensitization
The unique properties of nanomaterials, in particular gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have applications for a wide range of biomedical applications. GNPs have been proposed as novel radiosensitizing agents due to their strong photoelectric absorption coefficient. Experimental evidence supporting the appli...
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| Published in | Nanoscale Vol. 4; no. 16; pp. 483 - 4838 |
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| Main Authors | , , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
England
21.08.2012
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The unique properties of nanomaterials, in particular gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have applications for a wide range of biomedical applications. GNPs have been proposed as novel radiosensitizing agents due to their strong photoelectric absorption coefficient. Experimental evidence supporting the application of GNPs as radiosensitizing agents has been provided from extensive
in vitro
investigation and a relatively limited number of
in vivo
studies. Whilst these studies provide experimental evidence for the use of GNPs in combination with ionising radiation, there is an apparent disparity between the observed experimental findings and the level of radiosensitization predicted by mass energy absorption and GNP concentration. This review summarises experimental findings and attempts to highlight potential underlying biological mechanisms of response in GNP radiosensitization.
We summarises experimental findings and attempts to highlight potential underlying biological mechanisms of response in GNP radiosensitization. |
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| Bibliography: | Kevin Prise received his BSc in Biochemistry from Aberdeen University in 1982 and his PhD in Biochemistry/Cell Biology in 1985, also from Aberdeen University. He is currently Chair in Radiation Biology at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast where his research is focussed on mechanisms of action of ionising radiations, with emphasis on the optimisation in advanced radiotherapies, alongside agents such as gold nanoparticles, and their impact on low dose radiation risk. Stephen McMahon received his MSc in physics from Queen's University, Belfast in 2006. Following this, he completed a PhD studying gold nanoparticles as radiosensitizers in the School of Mathematics and Physics in Queen's University Belfast in 2010. He is currently a Post Doctoral Fellow as the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University, Belfast. Karl Butterworth received his BSc in Biochemistry from the University of St Andrews in 2001 and his PhD in 2005 from the University of Ulster in Cancer Biology. His Post Doctoral research in Experimental Therapeutics at the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast focussed on the use of gold nanoparticles as novel radiosensitizing agents. He is currently a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast. Fred Currell received his BSc in Physics and Chemistry from Manchester University in 1984 and his PhD in 1987, also from Manchester University. He is currently a reader in the Centre for Plasma Physics in the School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast where his research ranges from fundamental atomic interactions to the application of these processes at the physics-life science interface. |
| ISSN: | 2040-3364 2040-3372 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/c2nr31227a |