Radiosensitization Studies using Gold Nanoparticles Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)
have interesting property of binding to various
biomolecules and therefore have potentials for use in
biomedical applications such as diagnostics and
therapeutics and in cell imaging (due to their
contrast enhancement effect), targeting as well as
drug delivery applications (due to their tunable
physical and chemical properties). We initiated
preliminary studies to evaluate AuNP mediated
modification in both gamma ray and heavy ion
irradiation response of cancer cell lines. Glucose
capped gold nanoparticles are internalised into the
cells to estimate the radiosensitization effect. Efforts are also made to
conjugate gold nanoparticles with anti-EGFR so as to
inhibit the EGFR expression in lung cancer cells and
to investigate the radiosensitivity on exposure to
high LET radiation. Research is also carried out in
the field application of gold nanoparticles in cancer
diagnosis and sensing.
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