Coulomb nanoradiator-mediated, site-specific thrombolytic proton treatment with a traversing pristine Bragg peak

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 29:6:37848. doi: 10.1038/srep37848.

Abstract

Traversing proton beam-irradiated, mid/high-Z nanoparticles produce site-specific enhancement of X-ray photon-electron emission via the Coulomb nanoradiator (CNR) effect, resulting in a nano- to micro-scale therapeutic effect at the nanoparticle-uptake target site. Here, we demonstrate the uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) and nanoradiator-mediated, site-specific thrombolysis without damaging the vascular endothelium in an arterial thrombosis mouse model. The enhancement of low-energy electron (LEE) emission and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from traversing proton beam-irradiated IONs was examined. Flow recovery was only observed in CNR-treated mice, and greater than 50% removal of the thrombus was achieved. A 2.5-fold greater reduction in the thrombus-enabled flow recovery was observed in the CNR group compared with that observed in the untreated ION-only and proton-only control groups (p < 0.01). Enhancement of the X-ray photon-electron emission was evident from both the pronounced Shirley background in the electron yield and the 1.2- to 2.5-fold enhanced production of ROS by the proton-irradiated IONs, which suggests chemical degradation of the thrombus without potent emboli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Ferric Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Nanotechnology
  • Proton Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / therapy*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • ferric oxide