Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Cancer Treatment: Cell Responses and the Potency to Improve Radiosensitivity
Maria V. Shestovskaya,
Anna L. Luss,
Olga A. Bezborodova,
Valentin V. Makarov,
Anton A. Keskinov
Affiliations
Maria V. Shestovskaya
Federal State Budgetary Institution “Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Schukinskaya st. 5/1, Moscow 119435, Russia
Anna L. Luss
Federal State Budgetary Institution “Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Schukinskaya st. 5/1, Moscow 119435, Russia
Olga A. Bezborodova
P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 2nd Botkinskiy p. 3, Moscow 125284, Russia
Valentin V. Makarov
Federal State Budgetary Institution “Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Schukinskaya st. 5/1, Moscow 119435, Russia
Anton A. Keskinov
Federal State Budgetary Institution “Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Schukinskaya st. 5/1, Moscow 119435, Russia
The main concept of radiosensitization is making the tumor tissue more responsive to ionizing radiation, which leads to an increase in the potency of radiation therapy and allows for decreasing radiation dose and the concomitant side effects. Radiosensitization by metal oxide nanoparticles is widely discussed, but the range of mechanisms studied is not sufficiently codified and often does not reflect the ability of nanocarriers to have a specific impact on cells. This review is focused on the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles while they occupied a special niche among the prospective radiosensitizers due to unique physicochemical characteristics and reactivity. We collected data about the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the radiosensitizing effects of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and the main approaches to increase their therapeutic efficacy by variable modifications.