Albumin-Modified Gold Nanoparticles as Novel Radiosensitizers for Enhancing Lung Cancer Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Considering the strong attenuation of photons and the potential to increase the deposition of radiation, high-atomic number nanomaterials are often used as radiosensitizers in cancer radiotherapy, of which gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prepared albumin-modified GNPs (Alb-GNPs) and observed their radiosensitizing effects and biotoxicity in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma tumor-bearing mice models. RESULTS: The prepared nanoparticles (Alb-GNPs) demonstrated excellent colloidal stability and biocompatibility at the mean size of 205.06 ± 1.03 nm. Furthermore, clone formation experiments revealed that Alb-GNPs exerted excellent radiosensitization, with a sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.432, which is higher than X-ray alone. Our in vitro and in vivo data suggested that Alb-GNPs enabled favorable accumulation in tumors, and the combination of Alb-GNPs and radiotherapy exhibited a relatively greater radiosensitizing effect and anti-tumor activity. In addition, no toxicity or abnormal irritating response resulted from the application of Alb-GNPs. CONCLUSION: Alb-GNPs can be used as an effective radiosensitizer to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy with minimal damage to healthy tissues.