Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles aimed at improving theranostics

VEDELAGO, JOSÉ; GOMEZ, CESAR G.; VALENTE, MAURO; MATTEA, FACUNDO

RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY (OXFORD)

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2018 vol. 146 p. 55 - 67

0969-806X

Nowadays, the combination of diagnosis and therapy, known as theranostics,is one of the keys for an optimal treatment for cancer diseases. Theranosticscan be significantly improved by incorporating metallic nanoparticles that arespecifically delivered and accumulated in cancerous tissue. In this context, precise knowledge about dosimetric effects in nanoparticle-infused tissues as wellas the detection and processing of emerging radiation are extremely importantissues. In the last years the first studies on theranostic nanomaterials in geldosimetry have been presented but there is still a broad field of study to explore. Most of gel dosimetric materials are extremely sensible to modificationsin their composition, the addition of enhancers, metallic or inorganic chargescan alter their stability and dosimetric properties; therefore, thorough studiesmust be made before the incorporation of any type of modifier. In this work,the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles suitable for gel dosimetry for x-ray applications is presented. A green synthesis process of silver nanoparticles coated with porcine skin gelatin by thermal reduction of silver nitrate is presented. Nanoparticles were obtained and purified for their application in gel dosimetry. Also, nanoparticles size distribution, reaction yield and the preliminar application as theranostic agents were tested in Fricke gel dosimetry in the keV range.The obtained nanoparticles were successfully used in theranostic applicationsacting as fluorescent agents and dose enhancers in X-ray beam irradiation simultaneously.