Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 140-167.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201707174

Special Issue: Special Issue for Highly Cited Researchers

• REVIEW • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Tumor Radiosensitization

Linji GONG1,3,Jiani XIE1,3,Shuang ZHU1,Zhanjun GU1,3,*(),Yuliang ZHAO1,2,3,*()   

  1. 1 CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
    2 CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
    3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
  • Received:2017-05-29 Published:2017-11-13
  • Contact: Zhanjun GU,Yuliang ZHAO E-mail:zjgu@ihep.ac.cn;zhaoyl@nanoctr.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Basic Research Programs of China(2016YFA0201600);National Basic Research Programs of China(2016YFA0202104);National Basic Research Programs of China(2015CB932104);National Natural Science Foundation of China(31571015);National Natural Science Foundation of China(11621505);National Natural Science Foundation of China(11435002);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21320102003);Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(2013007)

Abstract:

Radiation therapy kills tumor cells via focused high energy radiation, and has become one of the most common and effective clinical treatments for malignant tumors. However, some limitations restrict its clinical efficacy, including a requirement for elevated doses of radiation, side effects due to exposure of healthy tissue, and especially radioresistance of tumor cells. With the development of nanomedicine, multifunctional nanoradiosensitizers offer a new route to improve the efficiency of radiation therapy. In this paper, we summarize the main types of nanoradiosensitizers and their applications in radiation therapy, especially those that have currently entered clinical trials. We also summarize the main approaches to nanomaterials-based radiosensitization, and discuss the factors influencing their application. Finally, the challenges and prospects of multifunctional nanoradiosensitizers are presented.

Key words: Radiation therapy, Nanoradiosensitizer, Radiosensitization mechanism, Nanomedicine