Nanotherapy of cancer by photoelectrons emitted from the surface of nanoparticles exposed to nonionizing ultraviolet radiation. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Letfullin, Renat R; George, Thomas F
• Is Part Of: Nanomedicine. Volume 12:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1107
• Page End: 1117
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: cancer treatment -- nanomedicine -- nanoparticles -- photoelectric effect; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5889

Abstract

Aim: We introduce a new method for selectively destroying cancer cell organelles by electrons emitted from the surface of intracellularly localized nanoparticles exposed to the nonionizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Methods: We propose to target cancerous intracellular organelles by nanoparticles and expose them to UV radiation with energy density safe for healthy tissue.Results: We simulate the number of photoelectrons produced by the nanoparticles made of various metals and radii, calculate their kinetic energy and compare it to the threshold energy for producing biological damage.Conclusion: Exposure of metal nanoparticles to UV radiation generates photoelectrons with kinetic energies up to 11 eV, which is high enough to produce single- to double-strand breaks in the DNA and damage the cancerous cell organelles.