Enhanced proton treatment in mouse tumors through proton irradiated nanoradiator effects on metallic nanoparticles

The impact of protons on metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) produces the potent release of MNP-induced secondary electrons and characteristic x-rays. To determine the ability of secondary radiations to enhance proton treatment, the therapeutic irradiation of tumors was investigated in mice receiving 100–300 mg MNPs/kg intravenously prior to single dose, 10–41 Gy, proton irradiation. A proton beam was utilized to irradiate nanoparticles with a single Bragg peak set to occur inside a tumor volume (fully absorbed) or to occur after the beam had traversed the entire body. The dose-dependent increase in complete tumor regression (CTR) was 37–62% in the fully-absorbed irradiation group or 50–100% in the traversing irradiation group, respectively, compared with the proton-alone control mice (p < 0.01). One year survival was 58–100% versus 11–13% proton alone. The dose-dependent increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species level was 12–36% at 10 Gy compared with the proton-alone control cell. Therapeutic effective drug concentration that led to 100% CTR with a proton dose of 31 Gy was measured either 41 µg Au/g tissue or 59 µg Fe/g tissue. MNP-based proton treatment increased not only percent CTR and survival in vivo but also ROS generation in vitro, suggesting tumor dose enhancement from secondary radiation as one potent pathway of therapeutic enhancement.