ABSTRACT
Radiation therapy is an important treatment modality for many types of human cancer. Although this therapeutic approach is effective in many cases, normal tissue toxicity limits the total radiation dose a patient can receive. Advances in instrumentation and technology lead to more precise X-ray targeting which reduces collateral normal tissue damage. In particular, nanomaterials used as radiosensitizers are known to increase the efficiency of X-rays causing more localized damage to DNA and targeted organelles of tumor cells. The small size of the particles, their versatile surface modification with specific recognition molecules, and the capability of nanoparticles (NPs) to produce reactive radicals upon irradiation are key properties in the enhancement strategies of cytostatic and cytolytic activities in tumor cells by high-energy (MeV) ionizing radiation.
