Targeted Gold Nanocluster-Enhanced Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer

Small. 2019 Aug;15(34):e1900968. doi: 10.1002/smll.201900968. Epub 2019 Jul 2.

Abstract

For over a hundred years, X-rays have been a main component of the radiotherapeutic approaches to treat cancer. Yet, to date, no radiosensitizer has been developed to selectively target prostate cancer. Gold has excellent X-ray absorptivity and is used as a radiotherapy enhancing material. In this work, ultrasmall Au25 nanoclusters (NCs) are developed for selective prostate cancer targeting, radiotherapy enhancement, and rapid clearance from the body. Targeted-Au25 NCs are rapidly and selectively taken up by prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo and also have fast renal clearance. When combined with X-ray irradiation of the targeted cancer tissues, radiotherapy is significantly enhanced. The selective targeting and rapid clearance of the nanoclusters may allow reductions in radiation dose, decreasing exposure to healthy tissue and making them highly attractive for clinical translation.

Keywords: PSMA; gold nanoclusters; prostate cancer; radiosensitization; targeted radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gold / therapeutic use*
  • Gold / urine
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metal Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Particle Size
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Gold