Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) mediated in vitro radiosensitization at megavoltage radiation energies

The purpose of this study was to assess SPION’s in vitro radiosensitizer effect at 6MV-energies and to calculate nanoparticle enhancement ratio (NER) of SPIONs. Citrate coated-SPION’s were synthesized. Trypan-blue, metabolic activity tests were performed. Cell cultures were irradiated at 0,2,4,6,8 Gy at 6MV-energy. Clonogenic survival assays, NER calculations were carried out. SPIONs were biocompatible. NERs were cell-line specific and dose dependent. The highest radiosensitization were seen in radiosensitive MCF-7 and MDAH-2447 cells at 2 Gy (NER:1.49 and 1.39 respectively), in relatively radioresistant MDA-MB-231 cells at 4 Gy (NER:1.20). By increasing doses radiosensitizer effect disappeared. There is possibility that by synergistic effect, SPIONs may cause dose-dependent and cell-line specific radiosensitization at 6MV.