New promising Glucose-Metal Nanoparticles for potential applications in Radiotherapy

Recently, a novel approach in radiotherapy consists in the use of “High Z materials” for increasing radiation dose absorption in tumour site and therefore improving the effects of radiotherapy. Metal Nanoparticles (NPs)... [ view full abstract ]

Recently, a novel approach in radiotherapy consists in the use of “High Z materials” for increasing radiation dose absorption in tumour site and therefore improving the effects of radiotherapy. Metal Nanoparticles (NPs) like Gold (Z=79) are the most promising candidate to become suitable materials for standard treatment in radiotherapy, due to their efficacy in delivering huge amounts of high Z atoms in the proximity of cancer cells nucleus [1]. Despite the great success of nanoparticles in this framework, there is still need to open new routes for the synthesis of more stable and functional nanoparticles.
The synthesis, characterization and assessment of biological response of innovative negatively charged functionalized metal nanoparticles is herein reported, for potential applications in the field of radiotherapy and drug delivery. Gold, Platinum and Silver nanoparticles (AuNPs, AgNPs, PtNPs, respectively) functionalized with two capping agents: the 3-mercapto-1-propansulfonate (3-MPS) and 1-β-thio-D-glucose (TG), have been on purpose synthesized and fully characterized. Advanced characterization techniques including X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were applied to probe the chemical structure of the synthesized nanomaterials. Z-potential and Dynamic Light Scattering measurements allowed assessing the nanodimension, dispersity, surface charge and stability of Nanoparticles. , in order to investigate the nanoparticles-cells interaction and evaluate the uptake efficiency for AuNPs, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) were performed to the "in vitro" Human Salivary Gland (HSG) cell model. Moreover, a deep cytotoxicity evaluation was assessed by means of MTT and SRB assays [2]. Preliminary data on NPs radiosensibilization were obtained by means of clonogenenic assay. In conclusion, with the purpose of increasing the amount of metal atoms inside the cell we have optimized the synthesis for a new kind of biocompatible and stable negatively charged TG-functionalized nanoparticles. Such particles are very promising for radiotherapy application.

[1] Neshatian M., Yang C., Hegarty N., Chithrani B. D., Precious metals for Biomedical Applications, Chapter: 4, Woodhead Publishing Baltzer N., pp.87-106 2014
[2] Porcaro F., Battocchio C., Antoccia A., Fratoddi I., Venditti I., Fracassi A., Luisetto I., Russo MV., Polzonetti G. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016