GENERATION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES BY X-RAY IRRADIATED SILICON NANOPARTICLES AND ITS RELEVANCE IN TUMOR CELL SURVIVAL.

DAVID GARA, PEDRO M.; GARABANO, NATALIA I.; LLANSOLA PORTOLÉS, MANUEL J.; RUBERT, ALDO; MÁRTIRE, DANIEL O.; CASAS, OSCAR R.; SANCHEZ, VIVIANA; GONZALEZ, MÓNICA C.; KOTLER, MÓNICA L.

La Serena

Encuentro; X Encuentro Latino-Americano de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología; 2010

Silicon nanoparticles (Si-NP) of 1-10 nm size show strong photoluminescence due to quantum confinement, being wavelength emission dependent on size and surface coating. Their strong luminescence and photostability make them excellent candidates as specific markers in biological environments for “in vitro” and “in vivo” applications. In the present work we study the incorporation of Si-NP to tumor cells, its cytotoxicity and the effect of ionizing radiation on the Si-NP properties and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.