Improving the Accumulation of Gold Nanoparticles Using Ultrasound and Microbubbles to Enhance Radiation Therapy

Gold nanoparticles have long been considered for use in conjunction with radiation therapy to enhance dose in a local tumor regions. However, limitation in cellular accumulation remains a hindrance for treatments to extend to clinical levels. Ultrasound and microbubbles have been shown to enhance the delivery of chemotherapies, genetic material and other molecules. This goal of this study was to demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the increase in PEGylated gold nanoparticle accumulation in cells due to the addition of ultrasound and microbubbles, and survival fraction. The results display approximate 3 fold increase in intracellular gold content independent of nanoparticle size, resulting in a 5 fold increase in cell death. Additionally, it was shown that USMB can facilitate nuclear localization of gold nanoparticles with nuclear localized signals to further enhance radiation therapy.