James F Hainfeld et al 2004 Phys. Med. Biol. 49 N309 doi:10.1088/0031-9155/49/18/N03
James F Hainfeld1, Daniel N Slatkin1 and Henry M Smilowitz2
Show affiliationsMice bearing subcutaneous EMT-6 mammary carcinomas received a single intravenous injection of 1.9 nm diameter gold particles (up to 2.7 g Au/kg body weight), which elevated concentrations of gold to 7 mg Au/g in tumours. Tumour-to-normal-tissue gold concentration ratios remained ~8:1 during several minutes of 250 kVp x-ray therapy. One-year survival was 86% versus 20% with x-rays alone and 0% with gold alone. The increase in tumours safely ablated was dependent on the amount of gold injected. The gold nanoparticles were apparently non-toxic to mice and were largely cleared from the body through the kidneys. This novel use of small gold nanoparticles permitted achievement of the high metal content in tumours necessary for significant high-Z radioenhancement.
87.85.Qr Nanotechnologies-design
87.53.-j Effects of ionizing radiation on biological systems
Issue 18 (21 September 2004)
Received 1 June 2004
Published 3 September 2004
James F Hainfeld et al 2004 Phys. Med. Biol. 49 N309
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