Aim: This study aimed at developing antibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to selectively target cancer cells and probing their potential radiosensitizing effects under proton irradiation. Materials & methods: AuNPs were conjugated with cetuximab (Ctxb–AuNPs). Ctxb–AuNP uptake was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Radioenhancing effect was assessed using conventional clonogenic assay. Results & conclusion: Ctxb–AuNPs specifically bound to and accumulated in EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells, compared with EGFR-negative MDA-MB-453 cells. Ctxb–AuNPs enhanced the effect of proton irradiation in A431 cells but not in MDA-MB-453 cells. These data indicate, for the first time, that combining enhanced uptake by specific targeting and radioenhancing effect, using conjugated AuNPs, is a promising strategy to increase cell killing by protontherapy.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane functionalized with imidazolium chloride peripheries IJPOSS-Imi) was\ud successfully synthesized through a novel synthesis protocol. The solid was extensively characterized via 1H\ud NMR, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as combustion chemical analysis, mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, an in-depth investigation through 29Si NMR was performed.\ud POSS-Imi was used for the first time as a catalyst for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates with excellent results in terms of both yield and selectivity. The catalyst displayed improved catalytic performance with respect to unsupported 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The enhanced activity was ascribed to the proximity effect generated by the increased local concentration of imidazolium\ud species surrounding the inorganic silsesquioxane core

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