X-ray-responsive selenium nanoparticles for enhanced cancer chemo-radiotherapy

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy leads to treatment failure and recurrence.
• Chemoradiation offers a strategy to overcome radioresistance and chemoresistance.
• Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) show anticancer potential by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate X-ray responsive selenium nanoparticles (PEG-SeNPs) for enhanced cancer therapy.
• To investigate the radiosensitization effects of PEG-SeNPs.
• To explore the mechanism of PEG-SeNPs-induced cancer cell apoptosis.

Main Methods:

• Facile fabrication of PEG-SeNPs using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a surface decorator and template.
• Evaluation of X-ray responsiveness and radiosensitization effects in cancer cells.
• Assessment of nanoparticle degradation upon X-ray exposure.
• Measurement of intracellular ROS generation and induction of apoptosis markers (DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation).

Main Results:

• PEG-SeNPs exhibited X-ray responsive properties due to their amorphous structure.
• Co-treatment with PEG-SeNPs and X-ray synergistically enhanced cancer cell growth inhibition.
• Internalized PEG-SeNPs degraded upon X-ray exposure, confirming responsiveness.
• PEG-SeNPs induced time-dependent intracellular ROS generation, leading to mitochondria fragmentation and apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• PEG-SeNPs demonstrate significant radiosensitization effects, enhancing chemo-radiotherapy efficacy.
• The X-ray responsive nature of PEG-SeNPs facilitates targeted ROS generation and cancer cell apoptosis.
• This study presents a novel strategy for designing and synthesizing nanomaterials for combined chemo-radiotherapeutic radiosensitization.