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Radiodynamic therapy and radiosensitising nanoparticles

Nanoparticles that turn ordinary radiotherapy X-rays into a much bigger dose exactly where they sit.

High atomic-number nanoparticles absorb X-rays disproportionately and either release secondary electrons, amplifying local dose, or excite a linked photosensitiser to produce singlet oxygen at depth. Hafnium-oxide nanoparticles (NBTXR3) are the most advanced dose-enhancement agent, with a randomised soft-tissue sarcoma study behind them and head and neck work ongoing. True radiodynamic constructs, where the particle drives a photochemical reaction, remain early phase.

Generic schematic · not to scale · placeholder for the radiation front
Linac head + MLC · Target (PTV) · Gantry arc · Cone-beam CT guidance

How it works

Intratumoural high-Z nanoparticles increase local photoelectric absorption, multiplying dose delivered per gray to the tumour without raising dose to surrounding tissue.

Strengths
  • Amplifies an existing, widely available treatment
  • Physical mechanism, so genotype-independent
  • One intratumoural injection lasts a whole course
Limitations
  • Requires an injectable, well-distributed tumour
  • Distribution within the tumour is uneven
  • Benefit beyond the injected site is unproven

Latest papers

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Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Radiodynamic therapy and radiosensitising nanoparticles" OR ABSTRACT:"Radiodynamic therapy and radiosensitising nanoparticles") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Radiodynamic therapy and radiosensitising nanoparticles, not a curated reading list.

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