Quantitative analysis of reactive oxygen species produced by core-shell gold nanoparticles during radiation therapy

We present a method to improve the radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), within cancer cells and tissues. This involves coating the AuNPs with various biocompatible polymers and exposing them to X-ray irradiation in the therapeutic range. Under 6 MeV X-ray irradiation we observed ~250-300% enhancement in the production of ROS in presence of silica-coated AuNPs, compared to the controls. These findings emphasize the potential of polymer-coated AuNPs in enhancing the effectiveness of AuNP-mediated radiation therapy. By boosting the generation of ROS, these nanoparticles can improve the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapy, particularly at low doses.