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Purpose Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been investigated for their role as radiosensitisers for radiation therapy. The study aims to increase the efficiency of these NPs by synthesising them with samarium. Methods Samarium-doped TiO2 NPs (Ti(Sm)O2 NPs) were synthesised using a solvothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were performed for characterising of the Ti(Sm)O2 NPs. The intracellular uptake and cytotoxicity were assessed in vitro using A549 and DU145 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the effect of dose enhancement and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to 6 MV X-rays was evaluated. Additionally, the image contrast properties were investigated using computed tomography (CT) images. Results The synthesised Ti(Sm)O2 NPs were about 13 nm in diameter as determined by TEM. The XRD pattern of Ti(Sm)O2 NPs was consistent with that of anatase-type TiO2. EDS confirmed the presence of samarium in the nanoparticles. At 200 μg/ml concentration, no differences in cellular uptake and cytotoxicity were observed between TiO2 NPs and Ti(Sm)O2 NPs in both A549 and DU145 cells. However, the combination of Ti(Sm)O2 NPs and X-rays elicited higher cytotoxic effect and ROS generation in the cells than that with TiO2 NPs and X-rays. The CT numbers of Ti(Sm)O2 NPs were systematically higher than that of TiO2 NPs. Conclusions The Ti(Sm)O2 NPs increased the dose enhancement of MV X-ray beams than that elicited by TiO2 NPs. Samarium improved the efficiency of TiO2 NPs as potential radiosensitising agent.

Purpose: Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) techniques are under investigation at synchrotrons worldwide. Favourable outcomes from animal and cell culture studies have proven the efficacy of MRT. The aim of MRT researchers currently is to progress to human clinical trials in the near future. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the high resolution and 3D imaging of synchrotron generated microbeams in PRESAGE® dosimeters using laser fluorescenceconfocal microscopy. Methods: Water equivalent PRESAGE® dosimeters were fabricated and irradiated with microbeams on the Imaging and Medical Beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Microbeam arrays comprised of microbeams 25–50 μm wide with 200 or 400 μm peak-to-peak spacing were delivered as single, cross-fire, multidirectional, and interspersed arrays. Imaging of the dosimeters was performed using a nikon a1 laser fluorescenceconfocal microscope. Results: The spatial fractionation of the MRT beams was clearly visible in 2D and up to 9 mm in depth. Individual microbeams were easily resolved with the full width at half maximum of microbeams measured on images with resolutions of as low as 0.09 μm/pixel. Profiles obtained demonstrated the change of the peak-to-valley dose ratio for interspersed MRT microbeam arrays and subtle variations in the sample positioning by the sample stage goniometer were measured. Conclusions: Laser fluorescenceconfocal microscopy of MRTirradiated PRESAGE® dosimeters has been validated in this study as a high resolution imaging tool for the independent spatial and geometrical verification of MRT beam delivery. Refereed/Peer-reviewed