Improving the efficiency and targeting of radiosensitisers

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Comparison of the radiosensitisation ability of metal oxide nanoparticles using clinical megavoltage X-rays

Publication . Guerreiro, Alexandra Furtado; Golding, Jon; Mason, Nigel; Pereira, Maria Alice

A wide range of nanoparticles (NPs), composed of different elements and their compounds, are being developed by several groups as possible radiosensitisers, with some already in clinical trials. However, no systematic experimental survey of the clinical X-ray radiosensitising potential of different element NPs has been made. In this thesis, a direct comparison is made through the irradiation-induced (10 Gy of 6 MeV X-ray photon) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anion radicals and singlet oxygen in aqueous solutions of the different metal oxide NPs. Also, cancer cell and DNA damage due to these NPs is studied under irradiation conditions. The results of this thesis showed that without any X-rays, several NPs produced different radicals. Furthermore, NPs such as vanadium oxide (V2O5) produced a significant amount of radicals compared to water and to the other types of NPs when irradiated with 10 Gy of 6 MeV X-rays and NPs such as copper oxide (CuO) showed significant cell and DNA damage that is not related to the production of ROS. Beyond identifying promising metal oxide NPs radiosensitisers, these results have shown evidence that the chemical and biological effects of these NPs are also present in the mode of action of these radiosensitisers challenging the pure physical radio-enhancement concept.

2020-07Tese de doutoramento

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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Número da atribuição

PD/BD/114450/2016