Ultrasmall Au₁₀₋₁₂(SG)₁₀₋₁₂ Nanomolecules for High Tumor Specificity and Cancer Radiotherapy

Abstract

Radiosensitizers can increase local treatment efficacy under a relatively low and safe radiation dose, thereby facilitating tumor eradication and minimizing side effects. Here, a new class of radiosensitizers is reported, which contain several gold (Au) atoms embedded inside a peptide shell (e.g., Au10-12 (SG)10-12 ) and can achieve ultrahigh tumor uptake (10.86 SUV at 24 h post injection) and targeting specificity, efficient renal clearance, and high radiotherapy enhancement.

Zwitterion functionalized gold nanoclusters for multimodal near infrared fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging

“…Those metal NCs, mainly gold, are made of ten to hundred atoms and usually presented as species filling the gap between molecules and nanoparticles. [1][2][3][4] Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) present several features making them appealing for cancer therapy thanks to (i) their high renal clearance 5,6 reducing toxicity risk, (ii) the relatively high tumor retention by passive uptake, 7,8 (iii) the ability to trigger cell death under light illumination 9 or radiosensitization, [10][11][12] and (iv) the detection by multimodal imaging techniques. [13][14][15] In optical imaging, one of the great advantages of Au NCs compared to plasmonic Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) is related to the ability to visualize them by fluorescence in the red-near-infrared (NIR) region (650-800 nm), a spectral window suitable for in vivo studies due to the reduced tissue scattering and low blood absorption.…”

Reversible Size Control of Silver Nanoclusters via Ligand-Exchange

“…[11][12][13] The emerging opportunities in catalysis, 14 energy, 15,16 environment, 17 and biology 18 enabled by the small size and often precise nature of these materials has spurred researchers to explore a multitude of synthetic routes to attain them including borohydride and gaseous reduction; 19,20 26 ; and templated growth in proteins, 27 polymers, 24 and gel cavities. 26 Each of these methods produces size-specific NCs.…”

Effects of surface charges of gold nanoclusters on long-term in vivo biodistribution, toxicity, and cancer radiation therapy

“…[1][2][3] Unlike traditional large size nanoparticles (NPs, .10 nm), [4][5][6] typical Au NCs have a renal clearance cutoff of less than 5.5 nm, 7 to easily escape the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and accumulate in the tumor tissue. 3,8,9 Therefore, they are widely applied in imaging, drug deliveries, and cancer radiation therapies.…”