Use of Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Radio Sensitizer in Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Radiation Efficacy

BACKGORUND: The aim of the radiotherapy is to deliver a lethal dose to tumor while reducing the impact on the normal tissue. This reduction in impact can be achieved to have a greater therapeutic ratio by using nanoparticles as radiosensitizer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this article, the potential role of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as radiosensitization enhancer on HT 29 cell lines for different concentrations (0.007to 0.25 mg/ml) and different radiation doses (0.5to 2 Gy) of 6MV photon beam is presented. RESULTS: The highest sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) value was observed with 2 Gy for 0.25 mg/ml concentration. Radio sensitization increases with increase in the concentration of nanoparticles. Combination of 6MV energy radiation and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated SPIONs results in increasing cell killing of HT 29 as compared to cell killing with radiation therapy alone. CONCLUSION: The results reveal that PEG coated nanoparticle might be a potential candidate to work as radiotherapy sensitizer in colorectal cancer.