Background and Objective:
Prostate cancer is the second cause of death in men worldwide. In this
study, the cytotoxic effects of PLGA polymer-coated gold Magnetic Nanoparticles (MGNPs), as a novel treatment
to enhance radiation and thermal sensitivity in the presence of hyperthermia (43°C) and electron beam, on
DU145 prostate cancer cells were investigated.
Methods:
Nanoparticles were characterized using TEM, DLS, XRD and SAED methods. MGNPs entrance into
the cells was determined using Prussian blue staining and TEM. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effects of combinatorial
treatment modalities were assessed by applying colony and sphere formation assay.
Results:
Our results revealed that the decrease of colony and sphere numbers after combinatorial treatment of
hyperthermia and radiation in the presence of nanoparticles was significantly higher than the other treatment
groups (P<0.05). This treatment method proved that it has the capability of eliminating most of the DU145 cells
(80-100%), and increased the value of the linear parameter (α) to 4.86 times.
Conclusion:
According to the study, magnetic gold nanoparticles, in addition to having a high atomic number,
can effectively transmit heat produced inside them to the adjacent regions under hyperthermia, which increases
the effects of radio-thermosensitivity, respectively.