First proof of bismuth oxide nanoparticles as efficient radiosensitisers on highly radioresistant cancer cells

Authors

Callum Stewart, University of WollongongFollow
Konstantin K. Konstantinov, University of WollongongFollow
Sally McKinnon, University of WollongongFollow
Susanna Guatelli, University of WollongongFollow
Michael L. F Lerch, University of WollongongFollow
Anatoly B. Rosenfeld, University of WollongongFollow
Moeava Tehei, University of WollongongFollow
Stephanie Corde, University of Wollongong, Prince of Wales HospitalFollow

RIS ID

110357

Publication Details

Stewart, C., Konstantinov, K., McKinnon, S., Guatelli, S., Lerch, M., Rosenfeld, A., Tehei, M. & Corde, S. (2016). First proof of bismuth oxide nanoparticles as efficient radiosensitisers on highly radioresistant cancer cells. Physica Medica: an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology, 32 (11), 1444-1452.

Abstract

This study provides the first proof of the novel application of bismuth oxide as a radiosensitiser. It was shown that on the highly radioresistant 9L gliosarcoma cell line, bismuth oxide nanoparticles sensitise to both kilovoltage (kVp) or megavoltage (MV) X-rays radiation. 9L cells were exposed to a concentration of 50 μg.mL⁻¹ of nanoparticle before irradiation at 125 kVp and 10 MV. Sensitisation enhancement ratios of 1.48 and 1.25 for 125 kVp and 10 MV were obtained in vitro, respectively. The radiation enhancement of the nanoparticles is postulated to be a combination of the high Z nature of the bismuth (Z = 83), and the surface chemistry. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to elucidate the physical interactions between the incident radiation and the nanoparticle. The results of this work show that Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles increase the radiosensitivity of 9L gliosarcoma tumour cells for both kVp and MV energies. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the advantage of a platelet morphology.

Grant Number

NHMRC/1084994