Bismuth Nanoparticles Increase Effectiveness of Proton Therapy of Ehrlich Carcinoma

We studied the antitumor activity of the combined use of local proton irradiation in two modes (10 and 31 Gy) with preliminary intra-tumoral injection of two types of bismuth nanoparticles differing in surface coating: coated with the amphiphilic molecule Pluronic-F127 or Silane-PEG (5 kDa)-COOH polymer. Nanoparticles were used in doses of 0.75 and 1.5 mg/mouse. In two independent series on experimental tumor model (solid Ehrlich carcinoma), bismuth nanoparticles of both modifications injected directly into the tumor enhanced the antitumor effects of proton therapy. Moreover, the radiosensitizing effect of bismuth nanoparticles administered via this route increased with the increasing the doses of nanoparticles and the doses of radiation exposure. In our opinion, these promising data obtained for the first time extend the possibilities of treating malignant neoplasms.