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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Preparation and Photoacoustic Analysis of Cellular Vehicles Containing Gold Nanorods
Published on: May 2, 2016
Cationic surface modification of gold nanoparticles for enhanced cellular uptake and X-ray radiation therapy
Chaoming Wang1, An Sun2, Yong Qiao3
1Applied Mechanics and Structure Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Mechanics and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China 610030 ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA 01609 ; NanoScience Technology Center, Biomolecular Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA 32826.
Abstract:
A challenge of X-ray radiation therapy is that high dose X-ray can damage normal cells and cause side effects. This paper describes a new nanoparticle-based method to reduce X-ray dose in radiation therapy by internalization of gold nanoparticles that are modified with cationic molecules into cancer cells. A cationic thiol molecule is synthesized and used to modify gold nanoparticles in a one-step reaction. The modified nanoparticles can penetrate cell membranes at high yield. By bring radio-sensitizing gold nanoparticles closer to nuclei where DNA is stored, the total X-ray dose needed to kill cancer cells has been reduced. The simulation of X-ray-gold nanoparticle interaction also indicates that Auger electrons contribute more than photoelectrons.
